Transcript for January 17 - 23

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

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon forms a triangle of astronomical objects with the Pleiades and the Hyades star clusters on the night of the 18th.

PAUL
All three of these astronomical objects are great targets for your binoculars.

RACHEL
The moon will be a bit on the bright side and will show mostly lunar seas in your binoculars.

PAUL
But the Pleiades and Hyades will show a multitude of stars that are invisible to the naked eye.

RACHEL
Whoa, the moon covers up the brightest star in Taurus the Bull on the 19th.

PAUL
Astronomers call this event an occultation and it’s with the star Aldebaran.

RACHEL
The occultation begins at 6:17 PM when the moon covers up Aldebaran.

PAUL
Unfortunately, it will still be light outside, so this part of the occultation is not observable.

RACHEL
However, at 7:28 PM when the moon uncovers Aldebaran, it will be quite dark outside.

PAUL
To watch the reappearance of Aldebaran, look along the right edge of the moon with your binoculars at 7:25.

RACHEL
Aldebaran will suddenly pop into view a few minutes later and it will just a bit above, half way up the moon’s limb.

PAUL
The rapidity of Aldebaran’s reappearance is evidence that the moon has no atmosphere.

RACHEL
That’s because even a modest lunar atmosphere would make Aldebaran’s reappearance more gradual.

PAUL
By observing an occultation from multiple locations, astronomers can determine information regarding the size, shape, and atmosphere of asteroids, moons, and planets in our solar system.

RACHEL
Orion the Hunter is an easy constellation to find, but it’s even easier on the evening of the 20th.

PAUL
That’s because the moon appears just above Orion that night.

RACHEL
Orion will be the tall rectangle of stars below the moon.

PAUL
Once you locate Orion, look for his belt.

RACHEL
Which is a row of three stars across Orion’s waist.

PAUL
Once you have located his belt, look below the middle star of the belt.

RACHEL
In binoculars, you’ll see what appears to be a fuzzy star below his belt.

PAUL
This is the Orion Nebula.

RACHEL
The nebula is easy to see with binoculars.

PAUL
But it’s even more spectacular through a telescope.

RACHEL
Through a telescope, it takes on a swirled pattern of pale greenish light.

PAUL
The very attractive Beehive star cluster appears just 8 degrees away from the moon on the night of the 23rd.

RACHEL
To find it, point your binoculars at the moon and then shift your view to the left.

PAUL
Shortly after the moon exits the right side of your binocular’s field of view, the star cluster enters the left side.

RACHEL
Since the average pair of binoculars has a field of view of 5 degrees, you don’t have to shift the binoculars very far before the Beehive appears.

PAUL
In binoculars, the Beehive appears as a small grouping of tightly bound stars.

RACHEL
And it will have a strong resemblance to a swarm of bees around their hive

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of January. The moon will help you locate the planet Jupiter next week.

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.