Transcript for December 14-21

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

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The brightest star of Virgo the Maiden is located below the moon on the morning of the 16th.

PAUL
The star’s name is Spica and it represents a wheat stalk in the hand of Virgo.

RACHEL
Look for the moon in the low southeast as you drive to work this morning.

PAUL
Spica is the brightest star below the moon.

RACHEL
Double stars are fun astronomical objects.

PAUL
They are excellent tests of an astronomer’s visual acuity and the optical quality of his or her telescope.

RACHEL
Astronomers and physicists have even used the motion of double stars around each other to prove that gravity works light years away just like it does on Earth.

PAUL
So take some time to look for an easy double star on the morning of the 18th.

RACHEL
Its name is Zubenelgenubi and it’s located below the moon.

PAUL
Zubenelgenubi means Southern Claw of the Scorpion in Arabic.

RACHEL
Wait, isn’t Zubenelgenubi is the brightest star in Libra the Scales?

PAUL
It is today, but over 2,000 years ago, Libra was actually the claws of Scorpius.

RACHEL
This changed after precession carried the sun to the claws of Scorpius on the first day of autumn, otherwise known as the autumnal equinox.

PAUL
Because the equinox is a time when day and night are equal in length, the Greeks and Romans declawed Scorpius and turned its starry claws into a scale.

RACHEL
Listeners with sharp eyes are capable of seeing Zubenelgenubi as two closely spaced stars without using binoculars.

PAUL
Use your binoculars however and you’re sure to see two unequally bright stars next to each other.

RACHEL
This stellar pair is 77 light years away.

PAUL
Saturn is a morning planet this month.

RACHEL
You can locate it on the 19th if you look for the brightest star below the moon at 7:00 AM.

PAUL
That may be a bit early to look for this planet, but you’ll be the first on your block to see Saturn.

RACHEL
If you have a telescope or spotting scope handy, then point it at Saturn.

PAUL
A telescope magnification of 25-power is enough to see its rings.

RACHEL
Which means even a spotting scope is up to the task.

PAUL
The distance across the rings is slightly larger than the distance between Earth and its moon.

RACHEL
Saturn is not the only planet to have rings.

PAUL
That’s right; all the large planets have their own rings.

RACHEL
However, Saturn’s are the most wonderful and stunning.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of December. The winter solstice occurs next week.

RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.