Transcript for November 11th to 13th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 11th, 12th, and 13th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
On the 13th, stargazers will find the moon passing close to the Pleiades star cluster.

RACHEL
The Pleiades are also called the Seven Sisters.

PAUL
The cluster appears as a small and bright star cluster on the moon’s left.

RACHEL
If you aim your binoculars at this star cluster, you’ll see around 24 member stars.

PAUL
Of course, a telescope with mirror or lens larger than two inches will show more member stars.

RACHEL
In binoculars and to the eye, the star cluster forms a tiny dipper shape.

PAUL
This confuses some people into thinking the Pleiades is the Little Dipper.

RACHEL
The star cluster is 444 light years away from the solar system.

PAUL
And astronomers believe it’s only 100 million years old.

RACHEL
That makes them only 1.5% as old as the solar system.

PAUL
Earth formed within 10 million years of the solar system’s origin, so we can expect stars in the Pleiades to have planets also.

RACHEL
Unfortunately, at 100 million years old, any planets in the Pleiades star cluster are still far from being able to support life.

PAUL
In fact, they are probably experiencing bombardment from the planetesimals still swarming in each nascent solar system.

RACHEL
What a sight the night sky would be however.

PAUL
The sky would be filled with lots of stars as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in Earth’s sky.

RACHEL
Perhaps our eyes would even be sensitive enough to see the dust and gas cloud wrapped around the stars of the Pleiades.

PAUL
It might be what it looks like when you’re inside a diamond.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 11th, 12th, and 13th of November.

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.