Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of April. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Got Jupiter?
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Jupiter is the brightest star above the moon’s upper right on the evening of the 6th.
RACHEL
In a pair of binoculars, you should be able to detect two of its moons, Callisto and Europa.
PAUL
You’ll need to hold the binoculars really steady, so prop them up on something like a car, fence, or tree branch.
RACHEL
Callisto will be the star farthest from Jupiter’s right.
PAUL
Smaller Europa is located about half way between Callisto and Jupiter.
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The remaining Galilean satellites are too close to Jupiter to see through binoculars.
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So to see them, you’ll get your telescope out.
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The moon is first quarter on the 6th. PAUL This is an excellent time to observe it in binoculars or small telescope.
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One of the larger and brighter star clusters is located near the moon on the evening of the 8th.
PAUL
It’s called the Beehive and the ancients used it to predict the weather.
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The star cluster is still visible to the unaided eye, but you’ll need to go south of Boise for sufficiently dark skies.
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However, don’t worry if you’re stuck in town.
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You can still it through your binoculars.
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To observe it, center your binoculars on the moon and follow its terminator going north.
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The star cluster is just three degrees above the moon.
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If you place the moon at bottom of your binocular’s field of view, the Beehive will appear near the center.
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Mars reaches opposition on the 8th.
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At opposition, outer planets like Mars are located opposite of the sun in our sky.
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Planets at opposition are also at their closest to Earth.
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This means Mars is now at its brightest for 2014.
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And we mean bright.
PAUL
Mars will be as bright as the brightest star, Sirius.
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There are two major differences between Mars and Sirius. First, Mars won’t twinkle like Sirius.
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And second, Mars is distinctly orange in color rather than white like Sirius.
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A very large and diffuse star cluster is located above the moon on the 12th.
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The star cluster is called Melotte 111.
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Mel 111 is so large that it will fill your binoculars with a scattering of stars.
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To see it, place the moon at the bottom of binocular’s field of view.
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At top of your field of view is the tip of a large inverted "V" shaped star cluster.
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For your best views, head out of town.
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And be sure to raise your binoculars high enough to move the moon out of sight.
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That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of April. Next week the full moon turns orange as it passes through Earth’s shadow.
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.
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