Idaho Skies Transcript for June 6th and 7th

PAUL

Welcome to Idaho Skies for June 6^th and 7^th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

 

RACHEL

…and Rachel.

 

PAUL

Stargazers will find the moon at last quarter on the morning of the 6^th.

 

RACHEL

This is one of the two half-full phases that the moon can have.

 

PAUL

And it’s the one phase people hardly see since it’s most visible after midnight.

 

RACHEL

The largest single feature on this half of the moon is the Ocean of Storms.

 

PAUL

This is the moon’s largest mare, or lunar sea of basalt.

 

RACHEL

Its 1,600 miles from north to south, or just a bit taller than the US.

 

PAUL

Like the other lunar maria, it probably formed after the impact of one or more gigantic meteors.

 

RACHEL

Although some scientists think that other processes are needed on account the mare’s noncircular shape.

 

PAUL

Two easy to see features inside the Ocean of Storms are Copernicus and Kepler.

 

RACHEL

These are two bright craters surrounded with ejecta blankets and rays.

 

PAUL

Astronomers believe them to be relatively young because their blankets and rays are so bright.

 

RACHEL

Being bright means that radiation and micrometeorite impacts haven’t had enough time to darken them.    

 

PAUL

But “young” on the moon is relative.

 

RACHEL

Young, bright craters are classified as Copernican in age.

 

PAUL

And this is a period in the lunar time scale that began around 1.1 billion years ago.

 

RACHEL

And rock samples returned by the Apollo 12 astronauts indicate Copernicus is likely 800 million years old.

 

PAUL

Eight-hundred million years ago, there was multicellular life in Earth’s oceans…

 

RACHEL

…but no animals swimming in the oceans nor crawling on the land.

 

PAUL

That’s Idaho Skies for the 6^th and 7^th of June.

 

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.