Transcript for June 2 - 8

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of June. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
… and Paul.

RACHEL
Now is the time to observe Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter.

PAUL
Our solar system’s two innermost planets remain close to Jupiter and all three are visible in the western evening sky.

RACHEL
Since Jupiter and Venus are so bright, they make it easier to locate Mercury.

PAUL
To see them, look low in the west-northwestern horizon about 30 minutes after sunset on the 1st.

RACHEL
That evening, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will form a straight line that is inclined towards the upper-left.

PAUL
Jupiter will be the lowest and very near the horizon. Venus is brighter and is located to Jupiter’s upper left.

RACHEL
To locate Mercury, just draw a straight line upwards from Jupiter to Venus. Mercury is located the same distance above Venus.

PAUL
Venus continues climbing higher above the horizon this summer.

RACHEL
Jupiter, on the other hand, is passing behind the sun soon and will reappear in the morning sky in another month.

PAUL
What about Mercury? What is its motion in June?

RACHEL
Mercury will climb a bit higher above the horizon until June 10th. Then it will begin approaching the sun, from Earth’s perspective.

PAUL
On the 4th, Venus is just above a cluster of stars named M-35.

RACHEL
It will be difficult to see very well because the sun will have recently set and it will still be dawn.

PAUL
You’ll need to search for this star cluster just below Venus after 10 PM.

RACHEL
However, you won’t have long, Venus sets at 10:30.

PAUL
Speaking of dawn, did you know that there are three types of twilight?

RACHEL
That’s right. The first is called civil twilight. Civil twilight ends when the center of the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon.

PAUL
At the end of civil twilight, we can only see the brightest stars. However, it is dark enough that state laws require us to turn on our car headlights.

RACHEL
The second is nautical twilight. This ends when the center of the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon.

PAUL
At the end of nautical twilight, sailors cannot navigate using observations that require them to see the horizon; the horizon is too dark to distinguish from the sky.

RACHEL
The last is astronomical twilight. At the end of astronomical twilight, the center of the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon.

PAUL
At the end of astronomical twilight, the sky is as dark as it will get. We can see the faintest stars.

RACHEL
The moon is new on the 8th, so you won’t see it for a day or two at best.

PAUL
However, it’s a good time to see faint objects through your telescope or binoculars.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of June. Join us next week to hear more about the innermost planets of our solar system.

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.