Transcript for Nov 9 - 15

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

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon will help you locate Orion the Hunter on the 9th.

PAUL
The majority of the constellation is the tall rectangle located below and right of the moon.

RACHEL
Above the rectangle of Orion is his raised arm and club.

PAUL
This is where the moon is located on the 9th.

RACHEL
So it looks like Orion is about to bat the moon with his club.

PAUL
Be sure to look for the row of three stars located inside the rectangle of Orion.

RACHEL
That’s Orion’s Belt.

PAUL
If you have a pair of binoculars handy, then scan downward from the middle star in Orion’s Belt.

RACHEL
The stars represent his sword, but you’ll notice the second star looks a little fuzzy.

PAUL
That fuzzy spot is located 1,300 light years away.

RACHEL
And it’s not a star, it’s a seething cauldron of star formation called the Orion Nebula.

PAUL
Astronomers have counted at least 700 stars in the process of forming within the Orion Nebula.

RACHEL
Here’s an easy way to identify Gemini the Twins; look for the moon on the night of the 10th.

PAUL
You’ll need to go outside after 10 PM to locate it, however.

RACHEL
Look right above the moon for two horizontal rows of stars.

PAUL
The brightest stars of the constellation, which are located to the left side of the moon, are called Castor and Pollux.

RACHEL
They represent the heads of the twins.

PAUL
Pollux is the brighter of the two stars and nearer the horizon.

RACHEL
Look for a bright star to the moon’s lower right on the 11th.

PAUL
It’s Procyon, the brightest star of Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.

RACHEL
The name Procyon means "Before the Dog".

PAUL
It got this name because it rises shortly before the Dog Star, Sirius.

RACHEL
Procyon appears bright in our sky not because it is a truly bright star, but because it’s so close to Earth.

PAUL
It’s just under 12 light years away for our solar system.

RACHEL
So if you know someone born in 2002, then Procyon is their birthday star this year.

PAUL
Get your binoculars out on the morning of the 13th.

RACHEL
That’s because you’ll be able to find and see the Beehive star cluster.

PAUL
After 3:00 AM, aim your binoculars at the moon and follow it's terminator straight north.

RACHEL
The terminator is the boundary between day and night on the moon.

PAUL
If you put the moon at the bottom edge of your binocular’s field of view, then the star cluster will be located near the center of your binoculars.

RACHEL
In your binoculars, and in dark skies, you should observe at least two dozen stars in the star cluster.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of November. Next week a fine meteor shower gives us a show. 

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.