Idaho Skies Transcript for November 23rd to 29th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the last week of November. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
On the evening of the 24th, you have a second chance to see a very thin moon this month.

PAUL
This time however, it’s an evening event.

RACHEL
The moon is three days old on the 24th, so it will still be crescent shaped.

PAUL
So look for the moon low in the southwest just after it gets dark.

RACHEL
And don’t forget to use a pair of binoculars so you can see Earthshine.

PAUL
In Earthshine, you should faintly see the lunar seas as dark patches, but you won’t be able to see lunar craters.

RACHEL
The moon passes next to Mars on the evening of the 25th.

PAUL
Look in the low southwest after dark for the brightest star to the moon’s left.

RACHEL
Mars will appear as a star with a decidedly yellowish tint.

PAUL
The Solitary One gets some company on the 29th.

RACHEL
The Solitary One is Fomalhaut, the brightest star beneath the moon that night.

PAUL
Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation of Pisces Austrinus, or the Southern Fish.

RACHEL
The Southern Fish is a faint constellation, just like Pisces above it.

PAUL
At 25 light years away, Fomalhaut is one of the closest stars to our solar system.

RACHEL
But don’t make plans to visit it in search of new life and civilizations.

PAUL
That’s because Fomalhaut is much younger than the sun.

RACHEL
It’s so young that Fomalhaut is still in the process of forming its planets.

PAUL
Within the disk of dust and gas surrounding the star, the Hubble Space Telescope has observed a pin point of light over several years.

RACHEL
That pin point is star light reflecting off a young planet orbiting the outer reaches of Fomalhaut’s disk of dust and gas.

PAUL
The ancients named Fomalhaut the Solitary One because of its location in the sky.

RACHEL
The southern autumn sky around Pisces Austrinus contains mostly large sea-based constellations.

PAUL
And these constellations contain mostly faint stars.

RACHEL
This really lets Fomalhaut stand out.

PAUL
So go outside after dark on the 29th and get acquainted with the Solitary One.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of November. Join us next month for the space and astronomy events for Idaho.

PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.