Transcript for September 14th and 15th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

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The moon has company on the 14th.

PAUL
The region surrounding the moon tonight is considered a watery part of the sky and its only bright star is Fomalhaut.

RACHEL
Fomalhaut is the alpha star of the constellation of Pisces Austrinus…

PAUL
…also known to stargazers as the Southern Fish.

RACHEL
Fomalhaut marks the mouth of the fish, which is swimming eastward.

PAUL
Above Pisces Austrinus is the constellation of Aquarius the Water Bearer.

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Aquarius appears as a man pouring water out of an opened jar.

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And the fish below him is swallowing the water he is pouring from his jar.

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At least that’s what the sky charts would have you believe.

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Did you know that Fomalhaut is a young star, compared to the sun.

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How can astronomers tell?

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On way is by detecting a dusty cocoon surrounding the star.

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Stars form inside of disks of gas and dust.

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And the dust is the remains of the cloud that formed Fomalhaut.

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Planets are also born from the cloud that lead to Fomalhaut.

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In fact, the Hubble Space Telescope was able to detect one of those planets in 2008.

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The planet has since been named Dagon.

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The name Dagon came from the name of a Mesopotamian fish god.

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So remember that solitary white star you’ll see below the moon on the night of the 14th is Fomalhaut and it has at least one companion planet.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of September.

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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.