Transcript for November 22 - 28

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

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
On the night before Thanksgiving or the 25th, you’ll find the moon slowly drifting through the far edges of the Hyades star cluster

RACHEL
It will be the full moon that night.

PAUL
And the full moon and the entire Hyades star cluster will fit within the view of your binoculars.

RACHEL
Of course the moon’s light will wash out some of the fainter members of the Hyades

PAUL
However, it can’t wash out one star, Aldebaran.

RACHEL
Aldebaran will appear as the orangish star to the left of the moon.

PAUL
It’s the brightest star of Taurus the Bull and represents its eye.

RACHEL
Aldebaran is actually a foreground star and not a part of the Hyades star cluster.

PAUL
In fact, Aldebaran is over 80 light years closer to Earth than the Hyades star cluster.

RACHEL
On the night of Thanksgiving...

PAUL
...which will be the 26th...

RACHEL
The moon will help you locate Orion the Hunter and its great nebula.

PAUL
To locate Orion, look below the moon for a tall rectangle of bright stars.

RACHEL
These are the four stars outlining the body of Orion.

PAUL
Then look across his waist for a horizontal line of three stars.

RACHEL
These are Orion’s belt.

PAUL
His belt really stands out since it consists of three bright stars very close together.

RACHEL
Hanging down from the middle star of his belt is a vertical row of two or three stars.

PAUL
The stars are his sword and you should scan it with your binoculars.

RACHEL
The second star will not appear star-like.

PAUL
Instead, it will be fuzzy and impossible to focus into a pin point of light.

RACHEL
That fuzzy spot is the Orion Nebula.

PAUL
It’s the closest large star-forming regions in the galaxy.

RACHEL
And a wonderful target for telescopes, according to our usually reliable Earth sources.

PAUL
Through a small telescope and binoculars, it appears as white fuzzy cloud.

RACHEL
When viewed through a larger sized amateur telescope, it takes on a greenish appearance.

PAUL
What? Green?

RACHEL
Yes green. The green is light emitted by ionized oxygen atoms inside the nebula.

PAUL
In fact, the source of the green color was a mystery for decades.

RACHEL
That’s because it’s very difficult to recreate conditions inside the Orion nebula in an Earth laboratory.

PAUL
Are you interested in learning to identify Gemini?

RACHEL
Then you have a perfect opportunity on the night of the 27th.

PAUL
Tell me more.

RACHEL
First, find the moon. In fact you can’t miss it.

PAUL
The stars of Gemini will appear as a parallel row above the moon.

RACHEL
And the brightest two stars of Gemini are located to the left of the moon.

PAUL
And if you listened to Idaho Skies the first week of this month, you’ll remember their names are Castor and Pollux.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of November. You’ll find the moon and Jupiter close together next week and that’s just perfect for your binoculars.

PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.

For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.