Transcript for 29 December to 4 January

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of January. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
… and Rachel.

PAUL
We have two birthdays, an anniversary, and a meteor shower this week.

RACHEL
January 2nd is the birthday of writer Isaac Asimov.

PAUL
Asimov passed away in 1992, but he would have been 94 this year.

RACHEL
Most of our listeners know Asimov for his science and science fiction books.

PAUL
However, he also wrote on many other topics like history and literature.

RACHEL
Did you know he published over 500 books in his lifetime?

PAUL
It helps when you publish your first book at age 19.

RACHEL
The 2nd also marks ten years since the Stardust mission flew past comet Wild 2.

PAUL
Stardust collected samples of comet’s dust as it flew by at a distance of 126 miles.

RACHEL
Then two years later, its reentry capsule returned to Earth in Utah, bringing those samples back for analysis.

PAUL
Although we spell the comet’s name like the word wild, it’s actually the name of the German astronomer who discovered it.

RACHEL
The two comes from the fact that this was his second comet discovery.

PAUL
In the world of professional astronomy, the discoverer of a new comet has the privilege of naming the comet after him or her.

RACHEL
The first astronomer to have this honor was Edmund Halley.

PAUL
Halley didn’t actually discover this comet; people had observed it for over 1,000 years.

RACHEL
One example is the Bayeux Tapestry, where the comet’s image adds a sense of foreboding for the king of England, Harold.

PAUL
We name the comet after Halley because he was the first to determine that many of the comet’s observed over history were actually the same comet returning every 76 years.

RACHEL
He also predicted when it would make its next appearance.

PAUL
Edmund Halley never lived to see his predicted comet return, however, since he nailed its return, we name the comet after him.

RACHEL
Halley predicted the return of his comet because he was a friend and firm believer in Isaac Newton.

PAUL
Newton also celebrates this birthday this week.

RACHEL
On the 4th as a matter of fact.

PAUL
Our astronomical event for this week is the Quadrantid meteor shower.

RACHEL
It’s a nice shower that peaks on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th.

PAUL
Quadrantid meteors will appear to radiate from low in the northeast, at a point just below the bowl of the Big Dipper.

RACHEL
The shower is best observed after midnight.

PAUL
You can expect to see 45 meteors per hour from this shower.

RACHEL
However, most of them won’t be bright, so watch from a dark location.

PAUL
The best way to watch this shower is to lie back on a lawn chair and look straight up.

RACHEL
Be sure to take a warm sleeping bag with you.

PAUL
And hot drinks are also helpful.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of January. Next week Earth reaches perihelion and we celebrate the discovery of Jupiter’s satellites.

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.