Transcript for November 14 to 15

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

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Stargazers will find the moon swimming through the Hyades star cluster on the 15th.

PAUL
This is a morning event, so look for it before you leave for work.

RACHEL
Aldebaran, a bright orange star in Hyades is just 3.5 degrees away from the moon.

PAUL
So your binoculars will show you the moon and Aldebaran at the same time.

RACHEL
The Hyades represent the face of Taurus the Bull…

PAUL
…and Aldebaran represents his eye.

RACHEL
Although it appears in the Hyades, Aldebaran is not a member of this star cluster.

PAUL
In fact, Aldebaran is only half as far away from the solar system as the star cluster.

RACHEL
When watched for many years, astronomers see that the apparent position of Aldebaran within the Hyades changes.

PAUL
That’s because Aldebaran and the Hyades have different proper motions.

RACHEL
Proper motion?

PAUL
Yes. It’s the apparent motion of a star across the sky.

RACHEL
And it’s the product of the motion of the star and the sun around the center of the galaxy.

PAUL
Proper motion is one tool that astronomers can use to determine which stars appearing within a star cluster actually belong to the star cluster.

RACHEL
As its getting dark on the 15th, look in the low west for Mercury.

PAUL
Mercury, Venus, and Mars will form a straight line spanning 45 degrees.

RACHEL
Remember that 45 degrees is one quarter of the way across the sky.

PAUL
The line begins in the southwest and tilts to the upper left.

RACHEL
And brilliant Venus is nearly dead center of the line.

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

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.