Transcript February 8 - 15

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of February. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
That star you see below the gibbous moon on the morning of the 9th is Spica.

RACHEL
Spica is the brightest star of the constellation of Virgo the Maiden.

PAUL
Virgo is the largest constellation in the Zodiac and the second largest constellation overall.

RACHEL
Unfortunately, Virgo is also a rather dim constellation.

PAUL
So you really need to get away from town in order to make it out.

RACHEL
There are a few double stars that really stand out in binoculars.

PAUL
One of those goes by the name of Zubenelgenubi.

RACHEL
The spacing between the stars of Zubenelgenubi is so wide that some people can see both without optical aid.

PAUL
However, it’s much easier through binoculars.

RACHEL
You can see this double star for yourself on the morning of the 11th.

PAUL
That’s right, look for the brightest star just below the moon.

RACHEL
Looking for Saturn?

PAUL
Well, the ringed world is to the moon’s left on the morning of the 12th. RACHEL You’ll need at least a small telescope or spotting scope in order to see its rings and largest satellite, Titan.

PAUL
Hey, what’s that bright star in the south?

RACHEL
It’s Sirius, the brightest star of Canis Major the Big Dog.

PAUL
Sirius is the brightest star in the heavens and only the planets Venus, Mars, and Jupiter can surpass its nighttime brilliance.

RACHEL
Sirius is a bright white and appears to throw off sparks of color when it’s low to the horizon.

PAUL
That’s because there’s more atmosphere low in the horizon to refract its starlight.

RACHEL
Did you know that Sirius has a strange companion?

PAUL
Even in the early 19th century, astronomers knew there was something odd about its companion.

RACHEL
Astronomers could see that Sirius wobbled back and forth as if a heavy companion star was tugging on it.

PAUL
However, try as they might, no astronomer could detect a star close to Sirius to account for its wobbly motion.

RACHEL
It wasn’t until 1854 that astronomers finally discovered a star orbiting Sirius.

PAUL
We call the companion of Sirius the Pup Star.

RACHEL
It has the mass of the sun, but is nowhere as bright.

PAUL
This means it’s very small, about the size of Earth.

RACHEL
We call these stars white dwarfs.

PAUL
How do white dwarfs form?

RACHEL
Once the nuclear fuel of a star like the sun runs out, the star collapses on itself.

PAUL
It continues collapsing until its electrons are nearly shoulder to shoulder.

RACHEL
The repulsion between electrons keeps white dwarf stars from collapsing any smaller.

PAUL
This extreme collapse makes white dwarf stars incredibly dense.

RACHEL
You bet. A billiard ball of white dwarf weighs as 100 family cars.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of February. Next week we’ll tell you about the Kansas farm boy who discovered a planet.

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.