Transcript August 23 - 29

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

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Got binoculars and a dark location for star gazing?

RACHEL
Then you can locate several star clusters and nebulae on the 24th

PAUL
All you need to do is scan the sky near the moon.

RACHEL
More specifically, the clusters and nebulae are located on the left side of the moon.

PAUL
To find them, just scan your binoculars up and down this portion of the Milky Way.

RACHEL
You’ll be searching a rich field of stars surrounding the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

PAUL
However, the actual center of the galaxy hides behind curtains of star-light absorbing dust.

RACHEL
Most of it is dust motes no larger than cigarette smoke.

PAUL
However, the clouds are light years thick and eventually absorb all of the visible light coming from the galaxy’s center.

RACHEL
Astronomers can use radio telescopes to see details within this region

PAUL
And by using telescopes designed to detect gamma rays.

RACHEL
What do astronomers find in the center of the Galaxy?

PAUL
A monster.

RACHEL
The monster is a black hole with a mass of over 4 million times greater than the sun’s mass.

PAUL
And it has a radius that nearly spans the distance between the sun and the planet Mercury.

RACHEL
And adults say that monsters don’t exist.

PAUL
Black holes are not as dangerous as many people think.

RACHEL
Besides, we’re 30,000 light years from the black hole, too far from its gravity to affect us anyways.

PAUL
Black holes are only dangerous when you get really close to them.

RACHEL
One reason is that they are incredibly tiny for their mass.

PAUL
This means one can get really close to their center before actually entering the surface of the black hole.

RACHEL
This is dangerous because the strength of gravity changes by the square of the distance between you and the center of the black hole.

PAUL
And since a black hole is small, you can get to where the strength of its gravity is fierce just outside its surface.

RACHEL
Or what astronomers call the black hole’s event horizon.

PAUL
Cross that boundary and no rocket engine can ever get you out again.

RACHEL
That’s if you even survive when the black hole stretches your body into a spaghetti noodle.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of August. 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.