Transcript for October 19th and 20th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
The Orionid meteor shower peaks on the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st.

RACHEL
It was given the name Orionid because its meteors appear to originate within the boundary of Orion the Hunter.

PAUL
Unfortunately, the moon is third quarter on the 20th.

RACHEL
That means the moon appears in the sky at the same time as Orion.

PAUL
As a result of the moon’s interfering light, gazers will not see as many meteors as usual from this shower.

RACHEL
However, the brighter ones will still be visible.

PAUL
So stargazers still might want to make a night of observing this shower.

RACHEL
Especially since it’s the last one of the year before the nights start getting really cold.

PAUL
Did you know the source of the Orionids is Halley’s Comet?

RACHEL
The meteoroids of this shower were once a part of the dusty surface of the comet’s tiny nucleus.

PAUL
Gases produced as the comet neared the sun carried away some of that dust.

RACHEL
Then when Earth’s orbit carried it through the orbit of Halley’s Comet, the dust slammed into the atmosphere.

PAUL
Dust from Halley’s Comet enters the atmosphere at speeds around 150,000 miles per hour.

RACHEL
Needless to say, the tiny grains of dust can’t do this without suffering some serious damage.

PAUL
The result is the fiery, but beautiful death of dust grains the size of the head of a pin.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19 and 20th of October.

PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.October 19th and