Transcript for November 18th to 20th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 18th, 19th, and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
The Beehive star cluster is just over a binocular view away from the moon on the 18th.

PAUL
The Beehive is located almost exactly dead center of the constellation of Cancer the crab.

RACHEL
Cancer has very few stars and what it has are pretty faint.

PAUL
That means in dark skies, you’re more likely to see the Beehive rather than the constellation.

RACHEL
Prior to 1609, humans only knew the Beehive as a fuzzy spot in the sky.

PAUL
Galileo was the first to point a telescope at the Beehive and realize it was actually a cluster of stars.

RACHEL
To see the Beehive on the 18th, point your binoculars at the moon at around 11:30 PM.

PAUL
Then shift your binoculars slightly left and down.

RACHEL
Shortly after the moon leaves your binocular view, the Beehive star cluster will enter.

PAUL
Through binoculars, the Beehive appears as a nice clustering of stars.

RACHEL
Its diameter is three times larger than the moon’s apparent diameter.

PAUL
And the cluster contains around 1,000 member stars.

RACHEL
Unfortunately, you binoculars will only show a small percentage of them.

PAUL
None of the stars appear particularly bright, but they are packed together.

RACHEL
That uniform grouping of stars gives the star cluster the same appearance as a swarm of bees.

PAUL
Hence its more popular name, the Beehive star cluster.

RACHEL
Before Galileo, it was called the Praesepe, or the manager.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th, 19th, and 20th 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.