Transcript for March 22 - 28

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

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
The moon passes close to Venus on the 22nd.

RACHEL
Look for this attractive pairing of the crescent moon and brilliant Venus.

PAUL
You’ll also see Earthshine through your binoculars.

RACHEL
That old moon really knows how to pose.

PAUL
On the 24th, it’s immersed in the Hyades star cluster.

RACHEL
The view should be quite nice through binoculars, with the thin crescent moon surrounded by a multitude of stars.

PAUL
It may not seem that way, but the Hyades star cluster spans an area much larger than the moon.

RACHEL
This will really be apparent when you see them together on the 24th.

PAUL
Since the moon is still a crescent, it should be easy to photograph it and the Hyades through a camera using its optical zoom.

RACHEL
A magnification as little as six power should be enough.

PAUL
Be sure to use a tripod for the camera since you’ll need an exposure several seconds long.

RACHEL
Orion the Hunter is arguably the most recognized constellation after the Big Dipper.

PAUL
Although the Big Dipper is only part of the constellation of Ursa Major the Big Bear.

RACHEL
You’ll find Orion just below the moon on the night of the 25th.

PAUL
If you have binoculars, then direct your attention to Orion’s belt.

RACHEL
His belt is the line of three stars crossing in the middle of the constellation.

PAUL
Hanging down from the middle star is a shorter line of stars that form his sword.

RACHEL
This is really where you should pointing your binoculars or small telescope.

PAUL
You’ll see a bright cloud in the middle of Orion’s sword called the great Orion Nebula.

RACHEL
This is a large cloud of glowing gas and dust in the process of giving birth to thousands of stars.

PAUL
In binoculars, it appears as a white cloud.

RACHEL
In a small telescope, the cloud is sprinkled with a few stars.

PAUL
In a larger telescope, the cloud turns light green from glowing oxygen gas.

RACHEL
Even though its hydrogen gas emits more light than oxygen, our eyes are more sensitive to the green light of oxygen than the red light of hydrogen.

PAUL
So the Orion nebula never appears red to our eyes.

RACHEL
The moon is located at the feet of Gemini the Twins on the 26th.

PAUL
In really dark skies, you might notice a faint and fuzzy spot located above the moon and on the other side of Gemini’s left foot.

RACHEL
This is the star cluster M-35.

PAUL
To see the cluster, aim your binoculars at the moon and scan straight up along the moon’s terminator.

RACHEL
You’ll soon run into the M-35 star cluster.

PAUL
In binoculars, it appears like a fuzzy cloud.

RACHEL
However, you should notice several stars immersed in the cloud if viewed from dark skies.

PAUL
The moon and Jupiter forms a compact triangle with the Beehive star cluster on the 29th.

RACHEL
Therefore, if you didn’t get a chance to see this beautiful star cluster on the 2nd, here’s your next chance.

PAUL
The three of them will just about fit within your binoculars at the same time.

RACHEL
And the Beehive will occupy the upper right edge.

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

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.