Idaho Skies Transcript for the Week of January 6th

DAN

Welcome to Idaho Skies for the week of January 6^th. We’re your hosts, Dan…

PAUL

…and Paul.

DAN

Earth just passed perihelion this week. So let’s discuss perihelion and what it means for Earth. Perihelion is that point in an elliptical orbit that is closest to the sun. At perihelion, Earth is only 91 million, 343 thousand miles from the sun. Or about 2% closer than average.

PAUL

Even though Earth receives about 7% more sunlight at perihelion, it occurs over the Southern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere, which is covered mostly by water, is difficult to warm up. Therefore, all that extra sunlight can’t warm air temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere very significantly.  

DAN

On the 7^th, stargazers will find the waxing gibbous moon near the eye of the celestial bull. That bull is named Taurus and his eye is named Aldebaran. Taurus is an old constellation. In fact, this pattern of stars was recognized as a bull all the way back to the Bronze Age, over 6,000 years ago.    

PAUL

The distance between the moon and Aldebaran is five degrees. Since binoculars have a field of view of around 7.5 degrees, the moon and Aldebaran will be seen together. But notice that Aldebaran has company. To the right of Aldebaran and a little above are the stars of the Hyades star cluster.

DAN

That’s Idaho Skies for the week of January 6^th.  

PAUL

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Paul…

DAN

…and Dan.

PAUL

Dark skies and bright stars.