Transcript for Mar 29 to April 4

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

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon and Jupiter form a compact triangle with the Beehive star cluster on March 29th.

PAUL
Therefore, if you didn’t get a chance to find this beautiful star earlier this month, here’s your next chance.

RACHEL
The moon, Jupiter, and the Beehive will nearly fit together within your binoculars.

PAUL
You can’t miss the Beehive; it will be the tight grouping of stars located in the upper right edge of your binoculars.

RACHEL
The bright star beneath the moon on the evening of the 4th is the 15th brightest star in the sky.

PAUL
The reason Spica appears as the 15th brightest star is that it’s ten times more massive than the sun.

RACHEL
Its extra mass increase its fusion rate to furious levels.

PAUL
And that makes Spica shine over 12,000 brighter than the sun.

RACHEL
Unfortunately, candles that burn bright like Spica also live fast.

PAUL
One day Spica will end its life in a supernovae explosion.

RACHEL
So if you think Spica’s bright now, then wait another few million years when it dies.

PAUL
Millions of years is very short in stellar years.

RACHEL
Closer to Earth, Idaho gets to see a total lunar eclipse on the 4th.

PAUL
You’ll need to go outside after 2:30 AM to see the beginning of the eclipse.

RACHEL
The eclipse reaches it maximum extend across the moon by the time morning twilight begins at 5:00AM.

PAUL
Fortunately, the 4th is a Saturday morning.

RACHEL
So you won’t have to miss out on sleep prior to going to work.

PAUL
You can expect the moon to turn red during the eclipse.

RACHEL
How red depends on the clarity of Earth’s overall atmosphere.

PAUL
This means the moon could range from bright light orange...

RACHEL
...to a dull, dark red.

PAUL
Try taking a picture of the eclipsed moon.

RACHEL
A camera with an optical magnification of six power will be sufficient.

PAUL
Just be sure to place your camera on a tripod for stability.

RACHEL
That way it won’t shake around during the exposure.

PAUL
Which you should experiment with.

RACHEL
Try exposures all the ways up to a second or two long.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of April. Next week is an auspicious time to observe the planets.

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.