Transcript for July 24th to 30th

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

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Last week you hear that the Blue moon was a second full moon within a month.

RACHEL
That’s the modern definition, but not the original.

PAUL
The original definition named the extra full moon within a season as the Blue Moon.

RACHEL
Typically, seasons have three full moons since there are three months in a season.

PAUL
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the third full moon appearing in a season of four full moons is properly called the Blue Moon.

RACHEL
It was by accident that the Blue Moon got corrupted into the second full moon within a single month.

PAUL
Speaking of the moon, it will help you find Neptune on the 23rd.

RACHEL
The solar system’s 8th planet is always a challenge to locate and see.

PAUL
However, it will appear as a faint star three degrees to the moon’s right on the 23rd.

RACHEL
You’ll need a dark sky location to see it through your binoculars.

PAUL
To find Neptune, point your binoculars at the moon and then shift them to the right until the moon just leaves the field of view.

RACHEL
The brightest star now appearing nearly in dead center is Lambda Aquarii.

PAUL
This star is ˝ of a degree above Neptune, or the same width of the moon.

RACHEL
There is no other star directly below Lambda Aquarii except for Neptune.

PAUL
Meaning that if you see a very faint star below Lambda, you’re seeing Neptune.

RACHEL
The 7th planet is next to the moon after midnight on the 26th and it’s much easier to see than Neptune.

PAUL
On the 26th, Uranus is 4 degrees above the moon.

RACHEL
So to see Uranus, aim your binoculars at the moon and then shift them up until the moon at the bottom of your binocular’s field of view.

PAUL
You’ll see a narrow quadrilateral of four stars just above the center of the field of view.

RACHEL
Look above the quadrilateral for an even brighter star.

PAUL
The brighter star is Uranus.

RACHEL
There are star maps to help you locate both Neptune and Uranus on the Idaho Skies Twitter account.

PAUL
Early risers will discover that the moon forms a large triangle with two star clusters as they drive to work on the 28th.

RACHEL
The star clusters are named the Pleiades and the Hyades.

PAUL
Both star clusters are pleasing binocular objects.

RACHEL
And you’ll see around two dozen stars in each through your binoculars.

PAUL
Hey, the moon passes through the Hyades star cluster on the morning of the 29th.

RACHEL
Cool, the Hyades and moon will fill the field of view of your binoculars.

PAUL
The brightest star appearing above the moon is called Aldebaran.

RACHEL
Aldebaran is not a true member of the Hyades star cluster; it’s just a foreground star.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the fourth week of July. The thin crescent moon appears next to Jupiter next week.

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.