PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 12th, 13th, and 14th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
PAUL
Stargazers will find Saturn a little right of the moon after midnight of the 14th.
RACHEL
Not only that, but the moon is also surrounded by nebulae and star clusters.
PAUL
Can our listeners see the clusters and nebulae in binoculars?
RACHEL
Sure, they’ll appear as smudges of light and in some cases smudges filled with stars.
PAUL
The nebulae and clusters are located between the solar system and the compact center of the Milky Way galaxy.
RACHEL
Or its nucleus.
PAUL
To see them at these star clusters and nebulae at their best, travel outside of town to darker skies.
RACHEL
Then sweep the region around the moon with binoculars.
PAUL
But be sure to shift your binoculars away from the moon.
RACHEL
That way the moon’s light won’t drown out the fainter light of the nebulae and star clusters.
PAUL
Exactly why is this region of the sky filled with so many star clusters and nebulae?
RACHEL
Because it’s located within the central bulge of the Milky Way galaxy.
PAUL
That’s where most of the galaxy’s stars are located.
RACHEL
And it’s the brightest region of the Milky Way.
PAUL
Since the moon is so bright tonight, it will be difficult to see the Milky Way tonight.
RACHEL
But on nights when the moon isn’t present, the Milky Way arcs overhead in summer.
PAUL
And looks like a luminescent cloud.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, our towns and cities are growing so bright from badly placed lights, most Americans can’t see the Milky Way anymore.
FADE IN MUSIC
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 12th, 13th, and 14th of May.
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.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Idaho Skies Transcript: May 10th and 11th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 10th and 11th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
The moon’s full on the 10th.
PAUL
So it’s definitely not the best time to go crater counting with your binoculars.
RACHEL
The full moon is May is known to some cultures as the Rose Moon.
PAUL
That makes me wonder, what are some other names for full moons?
RACHEL
Well, this is not a comprehensive list, but according to sources like the Farmers Almanac…
PAUL
January is known as the Wolf Moon
RACHEL
February is the Snow Moon.
PAUL
March? It’s the Sap Moon
RACHEL
April is called the Egg Moon.
PAUL
May you already know.
RACHEL
June is called the Strawberry Moon by some.
PAUL
July? Try the Hay Moon.
RACHEL
August is the Green Corn Moon.
PAUL
September is the Harvest Moon in some cases.
RACHEL
October is the Hunters Moon if September is the Harvest Moon
PAUL
November is called the Frosty Moon.
RACHEL
And finally, the full moon in December is called the Cold Moon.
PAUL
Of course, the full moon names change based on the time and location of the cultures naming them.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 10th and 11th of May.
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 May 10th and 11th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
The moon’s full on the 10th.
PAUL
So it’s definitely not the best time to go crater counting with your binoculars.
RACHEL
The full moon is May is known to some cultures as the Rose Moon.
PAUL
That makes me wonder, what are some other names for full moons?
RACHEL
Well, this is not a comprehensive list, but according to sources like the Farmers Almanac…
PAUL
January is known as the Wolf Moon
RACHEL
February is the Snow Moon.
PAUL
March? It’s the Sap Moon
RACHEL
April is called the Egg Moon.
PAUL
May you already know.
RACHEL
June is called the Strawberry Moon by some.
PAUL
July? Try the Hay Moon.
RACHEL
August is the Green Corn Moon.
PAUL
September is the Harvest Moon in some cases.
RACHEL
October is the Hunters Moon if September is the Harvest Moon
PAUL
November is called the Frosty Moon.
RACHEL
And finally, the full moon in December is called the Cold Moon.
PAUL
Of course, the full moon names change based on the time and location of the cultures naming them.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 10th and 11th of May.
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: May 8th and 9th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 8th and 9th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
PAUL
Stargazers will find a double star on the evening of the 9th with the help of the moon.
RACHEL
They’ll need to look around 10:00, or once the sky is dark enough.
PAUL
The star’s name is Zubenelgenubi and it’s one of the two brightest stars in Libra the Scales.
RACHEL
Zubenelgenubi, which can be split into two stars with binoculars, is the star located below the nearly full moon.
PAUL
Did you know that astronomers use double star observations to learn the masses of stars?
RACHEL
This is possible because Newton’s Laws of motion and gravity apply to the distant stars as well as they apply to the solar system.
PAUL
Astronomers know that the farther two stars are apart, the slower they orbit each other.
RACHEL
And that the more massive the stars are, the faster they orbit each other.
PAUL
Astronomers have since learned how to measure the temperature of a star using spectroscopy.
RACHEL
By combining the mass of a star and its temperature, astronomers can now calculate the age of a star.
PAUL
This came about once astronomers understood that stars generate energy through the fusion of hydrogen.
RACHEL
The science of spectroscopy was instrumental in the discovery of the composition and operation of stars.
PAUL
Before they understood the fusion process, astronomers thought star might generate heat by their gravitational collapse.
RACHEL
However, collapse is such a poor source of energy that stars couldn’t be more than tens of millions of years old.
PAUL
But with fusion as the energy source, astronomers have calculated that some stars will be around for a trillion years.
FADE IN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 8th and 9th of May.
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 May 8th and 9th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
PAUL
Stargazers will find a double star on the evening of the 9th with the help of the moon.
RACHEL
They’ll need to look around 10:00, or once the sky is dark enough.
PAUL
The star’s name is Zubenelgenubi and it’s one of the two brightest stars in Libra the Scales.
RACHEL
Zubenelgenubi, which can be split into two stars with binoculars, is the star located below the nearly full moon.
PAUL
Did you know that astronomers use double star observations to learn the masses of stars?
RACHEL
This is possible because Newton’s Laws of motion and gravity apply to the distant stars as well as they apply to the solar system.
PAUL
Astronomers know that the farther two stars are apart, the slower they orbit each other.
RACHEL
And that the more massive the stars are, the faster they orbit each other.
PAUL
Astronomers have since learned how to measure the temperature of a star using spectroscopy.
RACHEL
By combining the mass of a star and its temperature, astronomers can now calculate the age of a star.
PAUL
This came about once astronomers understood that stars generate energy through the fusion of hydrogen.
RACHEL
The science of spectroscopy was instrumental in the discovery of the composition and operation of stars.
PAUL
Before they understood the fusion process, astronomers thought star might generate heat by their gravitational collapse.
RACHEL
However, collapse is such a poor source of energy that stars couldn’t be more than tens of millions of years old.
PAUL
But with fusion as the energy source, astronomers have calculated that some stars will be around for a trillion years.
FADE IN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 8th and 9th of May.
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.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Sky Gazing for May 1st to 7th
 |
| Look for the Beehive star cluster on the night of the 1st. It will be easily visible in your binoculars. |
 |
| The brightest star in Leo the Lion is Regulus. It will be the yellowish-orange star to the left of the moon on the night of the 3rd. |
 |
| The moon leaves Leo on the night of the 5th. Get away from your neighborhood street lamp and you should be able to see the large, but sparse star cluster Mel-111 in binoculars. |
 |
| The moon forms a line with Jupiter and Spica on the night of the 6th. Jupiter will have a mellow color to it and it will not twinkle. Spica on the other hand is a real star and will twinkle. Spica is the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden. |
 |
| With binoculars, you can see the moons of Jupiter on the 6th. It's best if you prop them against something steady to improve the view. |
 |
| The moon passes even closer to Jupiter on the night of the 7th. |
 |
| This is the configuration of Jupiter's moons on the night of the 7th. |
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 5th, 5th, and 7th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 5th, 6th, and 7th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
The moon is leaving the confines of Leo the Lion on the 5th.
PAUL
Which also means the moon is located below Leo’s second brightest star, Denebola.
RACHEL
Above and slightly left of Denebola is a large and scattered star cluster named Mel-111.
PAUL
The cluster is much larger than the Beehive and in fact, it fills the binocular view.
RACHEL
To find Mel-111, locate Denebola, or the bright star above the moon.
PAUL
Now mentally draw a line from the moon to Denebola.
RACHEL
Extend that line 50% farther above Denebola and then slightly left.
PAUL
By pointing your binoculars in this region of the sky, you should see a large scattering of stars.
RACHEL
Hey, the moon, Jupiter, and Spica form a line on the night of the 6th.
PAUL
The moon is nearly full, so binoculars will not show much crater detail.
RACHEL
Jupiter on the other hand, is accompanied by a retinue of moons.
PAUL
And those are visible through your binoculars.
RACHEL
By the 7th, the moon moves so close to Jupiter that both can be seen together in binoculars.
PAUL
Look closely and you’ll be able to see Jupiter’s second largest moon Callisto below Jupiter.
RACHEL
And it’s largest moon Ganymede above Jupiter.
PAUL
The remaining moons, Io and Europa, are located just below Jupiter.
RACHEL
But probably too close to the planet’s glare to be see without a telescope.
FADE IN MUSIC
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May.
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 May 5th, 6th, and 7th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
The moon is leaving the confines of Leo the Lion on the 5th.
PAUL
Which also means the moon is located below Leo’s second brightest star, Denebola.
RACHEL
Above and slightly left of Denebola is a large and scattered star cluster named Mel-111.
PAUL
The cluster is much larger than the Beehive and in fact, it fills the binocular view.
RACHEL
To find Mel-111, locate Denebola, or the bright star above the moon.
PAUL
Now mentally draw a line from the moon to Denebola.
RACHEL
Extend that line 50% farther above Denebola and then slightly left.
PAUL
By pointing your binoculars in this region of the sky, you should see a large scattering of stars.
RACHEL
Hey, the moon, Jupiter, and Spica form a line on the night of the 6th.
PAUL
The moon is nearly full, so binoculars will not show much crater detail.
RACHEL
Jupiter on the other hand, is accompanied by a retinue of moons.
PAUL
And those are visible through your binoculars.
RACHEL
By the 7th, the moon moves so close to Jupiter that both can be seen together in binoculars.
PAUL
Look closely and you’ll be able to see Jupiter’s second largest moon Callisto below Jupiter.
RACHEL
And it’s largest moon Ganymede above Jupiter.
PAUL
The remaining moons, Io and Europa, are located just below Jupiter.
RACHEL
But probably too close to the planet’s glare to be see without a telescope.
FADE IN MUSIC
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May.
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 May 3rd and 4th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
PAUL
The moon reaches the first quarter phase on the 3rd.
RACHEL
The first quarter phase is an excellent phase for stargazers who want to observe the moon through binoculars.
PAUL
They should focus their attention along the terminator or the straight-line boundary between day and night.
RACHEL
This is where the shadows cast by the rising sun are especially long.
PAUL
And since the moon’s terminator faces directly towards Earth, stargazers will see the shadows in their full extend.
RACHEL
And not foreshortened.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the southern hemisphere is much richer in craters than the northern hemisphere.
RACHEL
On the other hand, the moon’s Northern hemisphere has more and larger maria, or seas of frozen lava.
PAUL
The maria formed when giant meteoroids impacted the moon nearly four billion years ago.
RACHEL
The impact basins created by the impacts eventually filled with multiple sheets of lava.
PAUL
The layers of lava covered up all the older lunar craters.
RACHEL
And by the time the maria formed, the rate of meteor impacts had decreased significantly.
PAUL
Meaning that there were far fewer meteor impacts after the maria formed.
RACHEL
After viewing the moon, take a moment to look at the moon without binoculars.
PAUL
See that bright star to the moon’s left?
RACHEL
It’s the brightest star of Leo the Lion, or Regulus.
FADE IN MUSIC
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of May.
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 May 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
PAUL
The moon reaches the first quarter phase on the 3rd.
RACHEL
The first quarter phase is an excellent phase for stargazers who want to observe the moon through binoculars.
PAUL
They should focus their attention along the terminator or the straight-line boundary between day and night.
RACHEL
This is where the shadows cast by the rising sun are especially long.
PAUL
And since the moon’s terminator faces directly towards Earth, stargazers will see the shadows in their full extend.
RACHEL
And not foreshortened.
PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the southern hemisphere is much richer in craters than the northern hemisphere.
RACHEL
On the other hand, the moon’s Northern hemisphere has more and larger maria, or seas of frozen lava.
PAUL
The maria formed when giant meteoroids impacted the moon nearly four billion years ago.
RACHEL
The impact basins created by the impacts eventually filled with multiple sheets of lava.
PAUL
The layers of lava covered up all the older lunar craters.
RACHEL
And by the time the maria formed, the rate of meteor impacts had decreased significantly.
PAUL
Meaning that there were far fewer meteor impacts after the maria formed.
RACHEL
After viewing the moon, take a moment to look at the moon without binoculars.
PAUL
See that bright star to the moon’s left?
RACHEL
It’s the brightest star of Leo the Lion, or Regulus.
FADE IN MUSIC
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of May.
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 May 1st and 2nd
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 1st and 2nd. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
Spring’s prime time for viewing the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
On the evening of the 1st, this attractive star cluster is only nine degrees from the moon.
RACHEL
That’s approximately 20% greater than the distance across your binoculars’ view.
PAUL
So the star cluster is easy to find a little help from the moon.
RACHEL
To find the Beehive, go outside late on the night of the 1st and center the first quarter moon in binoculars.
PAUL
Then shift the binoculars up and slightly left until the moon leaves your binoculars’ view in the 5 o’clock position.
RACHEL
Shortly after the moon leaves your view, the Beehive will enter from the 11 o’clock position.
PAUL
Just remember that the distance between the moon and Beehive is nine degrees.
RACHEL
Therefore, the binoculars don’t have to shift much further once the moon has left.
PAUL
You can’t miss the Beehive.
RACHEL
That’s because it will appear as a compact grouping of stars.
PAUL
Did you know that astronomers use star clusters to understand the life history of stars?
RACHEL
It’s possible because the stars in star clusters were born from the same cloud of dust and gas at the same time.
PAUL
Therefore, any difference between the stars in a star cluster is due to their differences in masses.
RACHEL
This creates snapshots of stars at various ages.
PAUL
And like taking a snapshot of the people watching a baseball game, you can develop a hypothesis about how people grow older from a single picture.
FADE IN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 1st and 2nd of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog at idahoskies.blogspot.com for additional information.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 1st and 2nd. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
BRING DOWN MUSIC
RACHEL
Spring’s prime time for viewing the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
On the evening of the 1st, this attractive star cluster is only nine degrees from the moon.
RACHEL
That’s approximately 20% greater than the distance across your binoculars’ view.
PAUL
So the star cluster is easy to find a little help from the moon.
RACHEL
To find the Beehive, go outside late on the night of the 1st and center the first quarter moon in binoculars.
PAUL
Then shift the binoculars up and slightly left until the moon leaves your binoculars’ view in the 5 o’clock position.
RACHEL
Shortly after the moon leaves your view, the Beehive will enter from the 11 o’clock position.
PAUL
Just remember that the distance between the moon and Beehive is nine degrees.
RACHEL
Therefore, the binoculars don’t have to shift much further once the moon has left.
PAUL
You can’t miss the Beehive.
RACHEL
That’s because it will appear as a compact grouping of stars.
PAUL
Did you know that astronomers use star clusters to understand the life history of stars?
RACHEL
It’s possible because the stars in star clusters were born from the same cloud of dust and gas at the same time.
PAUL
Therefore, any difference between the stars in a star cluster is due to their differences in masses.
RACHEL
This creates snapshots of stars at various ages.
PAUL
And like taking a snapshot of the people watching a baseball game, you can develop a hypothesis about how people grow older from a single picture.
FADE IN MUSIC
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 1st and 2nd of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog at idahoskies.blogspot.com for additional information.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
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