 |
| The Morning Star, as taken by my cellphone camera. |
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Venus is the Morning Star
Have you looked in the low east as you drive to work this week? Venus recently passed between the sun and Earth and has reemerged as a morning planet. So look in the low east before driving to work for the most brilliant star you'll see.
Idaho Skies transcript for April 28th, 29th, and 30th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 28th, 29th, and 30th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Hey! It’s time to look for earthshine after dark.
RACHEL
Stargazers will be able to see earthshine beginning the 28th.
PAUL
And it should remain visible until the end of the month.
RACHEL
Earthshine, for people who have never looked for it, is the faint illumination of the dark portion of the moon.
PAUL
It’s also known as ashen light.
RACHEL
Earthshine is sunlight, but it’s reflected off of Earth before it illuminates the dark portion of the moon.
PAUL
It’s bright enough to be seen without optical aid as a faint illumination on the dark portion of the moon.
RACHEL
However, a pair of binoculars will help you see it more clearly.
PAUL
In fact, with binoculars, it’s likely you’ll see some dark patches in the earthshine.
RACHEL
The dark patches are lunar maria, or the lava seas that give us the man on the moon.
PAUL
Don’t forget to aim your binoculars at Venus, or the Morning Star.
RACHEL
For the next week or two, Venus will remain close enough to the sun to show a phase in binoculars.
PAUL
After that, Venus will travel too far from the sun and Earth to show a phase except in the telescope.
RACHEL
Did you know that Jupiter and Venus are the only planets to show any kind of detail in binoculars?
PAUL
Except in Jupiter’s case, binoculars only show the (planet’s) four largest satellites.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th, 29th, and 30th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 28th, 29th, and 30th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Hey! It’s time to look for earthshine after dark.
RACHEL
Stargazers will be able to see earthshine beginning the 28th.
PAUL
And it should remain visible until the end of the month.
RACHEL
Earthshine, for people who have never looked for it, is the faint illumination of the dark portion of the moon.
PAUL
It’s also known as ashen light.
RACHEL
Earthshine is sunlight, but it’s reflected off of Earth before it illuminates the dark portion of the moon.
PAUL
It’s bright enough to be seen without optical aid as a faint illumination on the dark portion of the moon.
RACHEL
However, a pair of binoculars will help you see it more clearly.
PAUL
In fact, with binoculars, it’s likely you’ll see some dark patches in the earthshine.
RACHEL
The dark patches are lunar maria, or the lava seas that give us the man on the moon.
PAUL
Don’t forget to aim your binoculars at Venus, or the Morning Star.
RACHEL
For the next week or two, Venus will remain close enough to the sun to show a phase in binoculars.
PAUL
After that, Venus will travel too far from the sun and Earth to show a phase except in the telescope.
RACHEL
Did you know that Jupiter and Venus are the only planets to show any kind of detail in binoculars?
PAUL
Except in Jupiter’s case, binoculars only show the (planet’s) four largest satellites.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th, 29th, and 30th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 26th and 27th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 26th and 27th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon was recently a morning object.
PAUL
And now it reappears in the low west at dusk on the 27th.
RACHEL
But it’s still very close to the sun.
PAUL
So stargazers won’t have much time to see the moon between the time the sky gets dark and the time the moon sets.
RACHEL
To see the very young moon, look in the very low west before 10:00 PM.
PAUL
You might first see the Hyades and Pleiades star cluster(s).
RACHEL
And between them and even closer to the horizon will be a very thin moon.
PAUL
Binoculars will be helpful in seeing the moon.
RACHEL
Some people believe the moon’s crescent shape is due to Earth’s shadow.
PAUL
Actually, it’s due to the sun illuminating the other side of the moon.
RACHEL
And therefore, Earth is seeing mostly the night time portion of the moon.
PAUL
It takes the sun roughly 30 days to pass over the entire surface of the moon.
RACHEL
This means each location on the moon has 15 days of sunlight and 15 days of night.
PAUL
Except for some craters located near the poles of the moon.
RACHEL
Some of these craters have rims so high that their bottoms never see sunlight.
PAUL
This means they’re good locations to trap volatile materials like water.
RACHEL
So if we ever set up a permanent moon base, then we’ll want to mine some of that lunar water for its occupants.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th and 27th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 26th and 27th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon was recently a morning object.
PAUL
And now it reappears in the low west at dusk on the 27th.
RACHEL
But it’s still very close to the sun.
PAUL
So stargazers won’t have much time to see the moon between the time the sky gets dark and the time the moon sets.
RACHEL
To see the very young moon, look in the very low west before 10:00 PM.
PAUL
You might first see the Hyades and Pleiades star cluster(s).
RACHEL
And between them and even closer to the horizon will be a very thin moon.
PAUL
Binoculars will be helpful in seeing the moon.
RACHEL
Some people believe the moon’s crescent shape is due to Earth’s shadow.
PAUL
Actually, it’s due to the sun illuminating the other side of the moon.
RACHEL
And therefore, Earth is seeing mostly the night time portion of the moon.
PAUL
It takes the sun roughly 30 days to pass over the entire surface of the moon.
RACHEL
This means each location on the moon has 15 days of sunlight and 15 days of night.
PAUL
Except for some craters located near the poles of the moon.
RACHEL
Some of these craters have rims so high that their bottoms never see sunlight.
PAUL
This means they’re good locations to trap volatile materials like water.
RACHEL
So if we ever set up a permanent moon base, then we’ll want to mine some of that lunar water for its occupants.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th and 27th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 24th and 25th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 24th and 25th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
On April 23, 1962, NASA launched the Ranger 4 spacecraft to the moon.
RACHEL
The ten foot tall spacecraft looked a lot like a tinker toy creation.
PAUL
It weighed 730 pounds and was powered with two solar arrays measuring 17 feet across.
RACHEL
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory designed the Ranger series of spacecraft to send close up images of the lunar surface as the spacecraft approached the moon.
PAUL
This was early in the space age, so the Ranger spacecraft did not carry retro rockets to slow down for a safe landing.
SOUND OF CRASH
RACHEL
Ranger 4 carried a seismometer to measure moonquakes in an attempt to learn something about the moon’s interior structure.
PAUL
The seismograph was packed inside a balsa wood sphere in the hopes it would survive the impact if it were jettisoned just prior to impact.
RACHEL
It also carried a gamma ray detector to learn more about the radiation environment that future Apollo astronauts would face.
PAUL
Ranger 4 was the first (American) spacecraft to reach out and touch the moon.
RACHEL
Fourth time is the charm
PAUL
Unfortunately, the spacecraft failed to deploy its solar array.
RACHEL
The result was that the dead spacecraft impacted on the far side of the moon on April 26th.
PAUL
Nonetheless, it was the first American spacecraft to reach another world.
RACHEL
And that was quite an accomplishment considering just how difficult it was to get rockets to place their spacecraft into Earth orbit back in 1962.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 24th and 25th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 24th and 25th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
On April 23, 1962, NASA launched the Ranger 4 spacecraft to the moon.
RACHEL
The ten foot tall spacecraft looked a lot like a tinker toy creation.
PAUL
It weighed 730 pounds and was powered with two solar arrays measuring 17 feet across.
RACHEL
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory designed the Ranger series of spacecraft to send close up images of the lunar surface as the spacecraft approached the moon.
PAUL
This was early in the space age, so the Ranger spacecraft did not carry retro rockets to slow down for a safe landing.
SOUND OF CRASH
RACHEL
Ranger 4 carried a seismometer to measure moonquakes in an attempt to learn something about the moon’s interior structure.
PAUL
The seismograph was packed inside a balsa wood sphere in the hopes it would survive the impact if it were jettisoned just prior to impact.
RACHEL
It also carried a gamma ray detector to learn more about the radiation environment that future Apollo astronauts would face.
PAUL
Ranger 4 was the first (American) spacecraft to reach out and touch the moon.
RACHEL
Fourth time is the charm
PAUL
Unfortunately, the spacecraft failed to deploy its solar array.
RACHEL
The result was that the dead spacecraft impacted on the far side of the moon on April 26th.
PAUL
Nonetheless, it was the first American spacecraft to reach another world.
RACHEL
And that was quite an accomplishment considering just how difficult it was to get rockets to place their spacecraft into Earth orbit back in 1962.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 24th and 25th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 21st, 22nd, and 23rd
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Last month, Venus was the Evening Star.
PAUL
Venus orbits so close to the sun that it can rapidly switch from Evening Star to Morning Star.
RACHEL
So it’s not surprising that stargazers will find Venus as the Morning Star this month.
PAUL
In fact, they’ll find the Morning Star on the moon’s left side on the morning of the 22nd.
RACHEL
But they’ll need to go outside between 5:00 and 6:00 AM to see it this pairing of Venus and the crescent moon.
PAUL
Venus is a brilliant point of light, so it’s impossible to miss.
RACHEL
The planet is in waxing crescent phase and a pair of binoculars ought to be able to show its phase.
PAUL
However, Venus is very bright on account of its envelope of clouds.
RACHEL
And that brilliance in dark skies creates too much glare to make out the planet’s shape.
PAUL
This means stargazers are more likely see to detect the crescent shape of Venus if they wait until the sun is just about to rise.
RACHEL
That way the light of dawn will tame the glare of Venus.
PAUL
The moon’s not done with Venus on the 22nd.
RACHEL
That’s because the moon pulls along side Venus on the morning of the 23rd.
PAUL
This will be an attractive sight for stargazers going outside before 6:00 AM.
RACHEL
A challenge for our listeners is to try photographing this pairing with their cell phones.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Last month, Venus was the Evening Star.
PAUL
Venus orbits so close to the sun that it can rapidly switch from Evening Star to Morning Star.
RACHEL
So it’s not surprising that stargazers will find Venus as the Morning Star this month.
PAUL
In fact, they’ll find the Morning Star on the moon’s left side on the morning of the 22nd.
RACHEL
But they’ll need to go outside between 5:00 and 6:00 AM to see it this pairing of Venus and the crescent moon.
PAUL
Venus is a brilliant point of light, so it’s impossible to miss.
RACHEL
The planet is in waxing crescent phase and a pair of binoculars ought to be able to show its phase.
PAUL
However, Venus is very bright on account of its envelope of clouds.
RACHEL
And that brilliance in dark skies creates too much glare to make out the planet’s shape.
PAUL
This means stargazers are more likely see to detect the crescent shape of Venus if they wait until the sun is just about to rise.
RACHEL
That way the light of dawn will tame the glare of Venus.
PAUL
The moon’s not done with Venus on the 22nd.
RACHEL
That’s because the moon pulls along side Venus on the morning of the 23rd.
PAUL
This will be an attractive sight for stargazers going outside before 6:00 AM.
RACHEL
A challenge for our listeners is to try photographing this pairing with their cell phones.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 19th and 20th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Last time we mentioned that stargazers could see Saturn’s largest moon through a small telescope.
RACHEL
But even a spotting scope is enough to see this moon.
PAUL
Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system, only Jupiter’s Ganymede is larger.
RACHEL
Did you know that Titan is even larger than Mercury, the solar system’s smallest planet?
PAUL
Unlike Mercury however, Titan consists of icy materials like water and ammonia.
RACHEL
That means it’s far less dense than metallic Mercury.
PAUL
And unlike Mercury, Titan has a substantial atmosphere.
RACHEL
In fact, the atmosphere of Titan has a pressure 50% greater than Earth’s.
PAUL
This means an astronaut on Titan’s surface wouldn’t need a spacesuit to protect her from a vacuum.
RACHEL
But she would need a spacesuit to protect her from the gases in Titan’s atmosphere.
PAUL
Titan has an atmosphere that’s mostly nitrogen mixed with a little methane.
RACHEL
While not poisonous gases, breathing them would lead to quick suffocation.
PAUL
An explorer on Titan would also need a spacesuit to protect her from the cold.
RACHEL
The temperature of Titan’s surface is -290 degrees Fahrenheit.
PAUL
Which is nearly cold enough to turn its nitrogen atmosphere into a liquid.
RACHEL
Aside from an atmosphere you can’t breathe and intensely cold temperatures, Titan is a lot like Earth.
PAUL
That’s because it has sand dunes, mountains, clouds, rain, lakes, and rivers.
RACHEL
Not too bad for a moon nearly a billion miles away.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th and 20th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Last time we mentioned that stargazers could see Saturn’s largest moon through a small telescope.
RACHEL
But even a spotting scope is enough to see this moon.
PAUL
Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system, only Jupiter’s Ganymede is larger.
RACHEL
Did you know that Titan is even larger than Mercury, the solar system’s smallest planet?
PAUL
Unlike Mercury however, Titan consists of icy materials like water and ammonia.
RACHEL
That means it’s far less dense than metallic Mercury.
PAUL
And unlike Mercury, Titan has a substantial atmosphere.
RACHEL
In fact, the atmosphere of Titan has a pressure 50% greater than Earth’s.
PAUL
This means an astronaut on Titan’s surface wouldn’t need a spacesuit to protect her from a vacuum.
RACHEL
But she would need a spacesuit to protect her from the gases in Titan’s atmosphere.
PAUL
Titan has an atmosphere that’s mostly nitrogen mixed with a little methane.
RACHEL
While not poisonous gases, breathing them would lead to quick suffocation.
PAUL
An explorer on Titan would also need a spacesuit to protect her from the cold.
RACHEL
The temperature of Titan’s surface is -290 degrees Fahrenheit.
PAUL
Which is nearly cold enough to turn its nitrogen atmosphere into a liquid.
RACHEL
Aside from an atmosphere you can’t breathe and intensely cold temperatures, Titan is a lot like Earth.
PAUL
That’s because it has sand dunes, mountains, clouds, rain, lakes, and rivers.
RACHEL
Not too bad for a moon nearly a billion miles away.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th and 20th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 17th and 18th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 17th and 18th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Saturn is the gem of the solar system.
PAUL
Unfortunately, stargazers need a telescope or spotting scope to see how wonderful it appears.
RACHEL
But first, stargazers with modest optical aid who want to see Saturn will need to know where it’s located.
PAUL
This is why the moon is your friend on the 17th.
RACHEL
Be warned, Saturn is a morning planet this month.
PAUL
Which means it rises after or near midnight.
RACHEL
So wait until after 3:00 AM when Saturn is well-placed for viewing.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the bright star to the moon’s right has a mellow-yellow color and that it does not twinkle.
RACHEL
Stars that do not twinkle are a good sign that the star is actually a planet.
PAUL
And the fact that the star has a pale yellow color to it is a good sign that it’s Saturn.
RACHEL
To see Saturn’s rings and largest satellite, you need a telescope capable of magnifying a minimum of 25 power.
PAUL
The rings will appear to be floating around Saturn’s waist.
RACHEL
And its largest satellite, Titan, will appear as a faint star to Saturn’s lower left.
PAUL
That’s assuming you’re using a telescope that inverts images.
RACHEL
But it’s different for spotting scopes.
PAUL
Since they don’t invert images, Titan will appear as the faint star to Saturn’s upper right.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 17th and 18th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 17th and 18th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Saturn is the gem of the solar system.
PAUL
Unfortunately, stargazers need a telescope or spotting scope to see how wonderful it appears.
RACHEL
But first, stargazers with modest optical aid who want to see Saturn will need to know where it’s located.
PAUL
This is why the moon is your friend on the 17th.
RACHEL
Be warned, Saturn is a morning planet this month.
PAUL
Which means it rises after or near midnight.
RACHEL
So wait until after 3:00 AM when Saturn is well-placed for viewing.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the bright star to the moon’s right has a mellow-yellow color and that it does not twinkle.
RACHEL
Stars that do not twinkle are a good sign that the star is actually a planet.
PAUL
And the fact that the star has a pale yellow color to it is a good sign that it’s Saturn.
RACHEL
To see Saturn’s rings and largest satellite, you need a telescope capable of magnifying a minimum of 25 power.
PAUL
The rings will appear to be floating around Saturn’s waist.
RACHEL
And its largest satellite, Titan, will appear as a faint star to Saturn’s lower left.
PAUL
That’s assuming you’re using a telescope that inverts images.
RACHEL
But it’s different for spotting scopes.
PAUL
Since they don’t invert images, Titan will appear as the faint star to Saturn’s upper right.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 17th and 18th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 7th, 8th, and 9th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 7th, 8th, and 9th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon swims pass Leo the Lion by the evening of the 8th.
PAUL
Actually, on that night the moon is below Leo’s tail.
RACHEL
Wait, Leo doesn’t have a tail.
PAUL
Well, in the ancient past, Leo had a tail that ended in a tuft.
RACHEL
Oh I see. And that tuft is the star cluster named Mel-111.
PAUL
That’s right. However today, that star cluster is the hair of Queen Berenices and not a lion’s tail.
RACHEL
Have you tried looking at Mel-111 through binoculars?
PAUL
Yes I have. The star cluster is so large that it spanned the view of my binoculars.
RACHEL
That means that the cluster isn’t packed densely with stars, like some other clusters.
PAUL
That’s because the cluster’s relatively close to the sun and because its stellar members are escaping from one another.
RACHEL
To find Mel-111, draw a line from the moon and straight up to the bright star above the moon.
PAUL
That star’s name is Denebola, by the way.
RACHEL
Then go the same distance above Denebola and shift slightly to the left, or east.
PAUL
Aim your binoculars there and you’ll see a star cluster of star that appears as an upside down “Y”.
RACHEL
And you’ll see around 40 stars scattered through out your binocular view.
PAUL
And Mel-111 is visible without binoculars, but just as a hazy spot in dark skies.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th, 8th, and 9th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 7th, 8th, and 9th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon swims pass Leo the Lion by the evening of the 8th.
PAUL
Actually, on that night the moon is below Leo’s tail.
RACHEL
Wait, Leo doesn’t have a tail.
PAUL
Well, in the ancient past, Leo had a tail that ended in a tuft.
RACHEL
Oh I see. And that tuft is the star cluster named Mel-111.
PAUL
That’s right. However today, that star cluster is the hair of Queen Berenices and not a lion’s tail.
RACHEL
Have you tried looking at Mel-111 through binoculars?
PAUL
Yes I have. The star cluster is so large that it spanned the view of my binoculars.
RACHEL
That means that the cluster isn’t packed densely with stars, like some other clusters.
PAUL
That’s because the cluster’s relatively close to the sun and because its stellar members are escaping from one another.
RACHEL
To find Mel-111, draw a line from the moon and straight up to the bright star above the moon.
PAUL
That star’s name is Denebola, by the way.
RACHEL
Then go the same distance above Denebola and shift slightly to the left, or east.
PAUL
Aim your binoculars there and you’ll see a star cluster of star that appears as an upside down “Y”.
RACHEL
And you’ll see around 40 stars scattered through out your binocular view.
PAUL
And Mel-111 is visible without binoculars, but just as a hazy spot in dark skies.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th, 8th, and 9th of April.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 5th and 6th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 5th and 6th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon appears next to a bright star on the 6th.
RACHEL
That star’s name is Regulus.
PAUL
Regulus represents the heart of Leo the Lion.
RACHEL
So I expect Regulus appears as a red star.
PAUL
Actually, Regulus appears more orange than red, but that’s close enough.
RACHEL
Regulus is the star to the moon’s upper left.
PAUL
And the two are close enough together that a pair of binoculars will show both at the same time.
RACHEL
This is another example of how binoculars are useful in observing close encounters of the astronomy kind.
PAUL
Regulus is the brightest star along the ecliptic, or path the moon, sun, and planets take across the sky.
RACHEL
Its closeness to the ecliptic results in the sun, moon, and planets appearing close to it on a regular basis.
PAUL
Did you know that Regulus is a star four times more massive than the sun?
RACHEL
And three times wider at the equator?
PAUL
With its larger mass, Regulus will not live as long as the sun.
RACHEL
But it’s not massive enough to explode as a supernova.
PAUL
Regulus is only 79 light years away from the solar system.
RACHEL
That means you’re seeing Regulus as it actually existed in 1938.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th and 6th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 5th and 6th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon appears next to a bright star on the 6th.
RACHEL
That star’s name is Regulus.
PAUL
Regulus represents the heart of Leo the Lion.
RACHEL
So I expect Regulus appears as a red star.
PAUL
Actually, Regulus appears more orange than red, but that’s close enough.
RACHEL
Regulus is the star to the moon’s upper left.
PAUL
And the two are close enough together that a pair of binoculars will show both at the same time.
RACHEL
This is another example of how binoculars are useful in observing close encounters of the astronomy kind.
PAUL
Regulus is the brightest star along the ecliptic, or path the moon, sun, and planets take across the sky.
RACHEL
Its closeness to the ecliptic results in the sun, moon, and planets appearing close to it on a regular basis.
PAUL
Did you know that Regulus is a star four times more massive than the sun?
RACHEL
And three times wider at the equator?
PAUL
With its larger mass, Regulus will not live as long as the sun.
RACHEL
But it’s not massive enough to explode as a supernova.
PAUL
Regulus is only 79 light years away from the solar system.
RACHEL
That means you’re seeing Regulus as it actually existed in 1938.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th and 6th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for April 3rd and 4th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon reaches the first quarter phase on the 3rd.
PAUL
This means the 3rd is among the best nights this month to go on a lunar safari.
RACHEL
Even better, all it takes is a pair of binoculars.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the southern hemisphere of the moon is packed with craters.
RACHEL
There are so many craters in fact, that if a new meteoroid struck the moon, it would not increase the number of lunar craters.
PAUL
That’s because the number of new craters created would obliterate the same number of old craters.
RACHEL
The Beehive is a wonderfully attractive star cluster that the ancients were familiar with.
PAUL
Of course, they didn’t realize it was a star cluster.
RACHEL
That’s right. To them, it was a fuzzy spot in the dark skies of antiquity.
PAUL
However, it only takes a pair of binoculars to see the true nature of this fuzzy cloud.
RACHEL
The only difficulty for stargazers is actually finding the Beehive star cluster, since it doesn’t appear near any bright stars.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon is only six degrees away from the cluster on the might of the 4th.
RACHEL
So point your binoculars at the moon and then shift them until of the moon is in the lower right of your view.
PAUL
A smattering of stars will then appear in the upper left.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will show around two dozen stars in a tiny region of the sky.
PAUL
And it won’t be difficult to picture them as a swarm of bees around their hive.
RACHEL
Now that you know where the Beehive is located, see if you can locate it in dark skies without optical aid.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog at idahoskies.blogspot.com for additional information.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon reaches the first quarter phase on the 3rd.
PAUL
This means the 3rd is among the best nights this month to go on a lunar safari.
RACHEL
Even better, all it takes is a pair of binoculars.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the southern hemisphere of the moon is packed with craters.
RACHEL
There are so many craters in fact, that if a new meteoroid struck the moon, it would not increase the number of lunar craters.
PAUL
That’s because the number of new craters created would obliterate the same number of old craters.
RACHEL
The Beehive is a wonderfully attractive star cluster that the ancients were familiar with.
PAUL
Of course, they didn’t realize it was a star cluster.
RACHEL
That’s right. To them, it was a fuzzy spot in the dark skies of antiquity.
PAUL
However, it only takes a pair of binoculars to see the true nature of this fuzzy cloud.
RACHEL
The only difficulty for stargazers is actually finding the Beehive star cluster, since it doesn’t appear near any bright stars.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon is only six degrees away from the cluster on the might of the 4th.
RACHEL
So point your binoculars at the moon and then shift them until of the moon is in the lower right of your view.
PAUL
A smattering of stars will then appear in the upper left.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will show around two dozen stars in a tiny region of the sky.
PAUL
And it won’t be difficult to picture them as a swarm of bees around their hive.
RACHEL
Now that you know where the Beehive is located, see if you can locate it in dark skies without optical aid.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of April.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog at idahoskies.blogspot.com for additional information.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
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