Idaho Skies Transcript for October 5th, 6th, and 7th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 5th, 6th, and 7th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Early rising Idaho stargazers will find the moon near the brightest star of Leo the Lion on the 5th. The star is yellowish-orange in color and its named Regulus. The star’s color and position within the constellation makes it the heart of this celestial lion. But it’s a heart that’s three times larger than the sun, or 2.7 million miles across.

PAUL
Did you know that Regulus is a fast rotator? In fact, it spins on its axis in only 16 hours. Or 45 times faster than the sun. If Regulus rotated three hours more quickly, the star’s gravity would be insufficient to hold it together. And the star would tear itself apart.

RACHEL
Astronomers have determined that Regulus is young, only 50 million years old. While that might not sound young to you and me, in star years, that’s very young. And Regulus won’t live nearly as long as the sun. That’s because Regulus is massive, over three times heavier than the sun. Which makes its core hotter and denser.

PAUL
Astronomers know that it’s the heat and pressure that drives stellar fusion. Higher heat and pressure makes the rate of fusion in Regulus is much higher than in the sun. So it’s not surprising that Regulus is expected to only live to be 350 million years old. Compare that our sun, which is over ten times older.

RACHEL
And our sun is only half way through its life.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th, 6th, and 7th of October.

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.