Transcript for October 7 - 9

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 7th, 8th, and 9th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
What is a nebula?

PAUL
A nebula is a cloud of dust and gas in interstellar space.

RACHEL
Did you also know that there are two kinds?

PAUL
Sure, astronomers call them emission and reflection nebulae.

RACHEL
An emission nebula appears red in astronomical photographs.

PAUL
The red color comes from hydrogen gas, which is their main constituent.

RACHEL
Stars in or near the nebulae are hot enough to ionize hydrogen gas and cause it to fluoresce like a neon light.

PAUL
The second kind of nebulae, which astronomers call a reflection nebula, appears blue in astronomical photographs.

RACHEL
The blue color comes from starlight.

PAUL
That’s because with a reflection nebula, stars aren’t hot enough to ionize the nebula’s gas.

RACHEL
So instead, the dust and gas reflects starlight.

PAUL
On the night of the 7th, the moon will help you locate several nebulae.

RACHEL
And all you need is a pair of binoculars to see them.

PAUL
On the 7th, scan the region above and below the moon with your binoculars from a dark location.

RACHEL
And look for small hazy clouds

PAUL
You might notice that some of them also contain tiny sprinkles of stars.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th, 8th, and 9th of October.

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.