Idaho Skies Transcript for March 19th and 20th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
We’ve spent some of our shows recently talking about Mercury.

PAUL
That’s because this little world is making a brief appearance this week.

RACHEL
On the evening of the 19th, it passes its closest to Venus from Earth’s perspective.

PAUL
You’ll find the distance between them just under four degrees.

RACHEL
With a spacing of four degrees, both of them will fit within the field of view of your binoculars.

PAUL
Remember though, you can’t use your binoculars on Mercury and Venus until after the sun has set.

RACHEL
Hey! Guess what happens on the 20th?

PAUL
Umm, my laundry gets washed?

RACHEL
No silly, it’s the Vernal Equinox.

PAUL
Yea, the first day of spring!

RACHEL
That’s right. On the 20th, the sun stands directly above the equator.

PAUL
And even better, every day for the next six months, the sun stands over the Northern hemisphere.

RACHEL
So in Idaho we get to celebrate both the spring and summer seasons.

PAUL
Now actually, the sun doesn’t shift its position in the sky.

RACHEL
That’s right, our orbit makes Earth sometimes point towards or away from the sun.

PAUL
During spring and summer is a time when our spin axis points towards the sun.

RACHEL
Which gives us longer days and shorter nights.

PAUL
So until the Autumnal Equinox in September, enjoy days longer than the nights.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th and 20th of March.

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.