Idaho Skies Transcript for December 12th and 13th

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

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
After it gets dark on the 12th, point your binoculars at the moon.

RACHEL
You’ll find it’s slowly drifting through the Hyades star cluster.

PAUL
The brightest star appearing in the Hyades is Aldebaran and it’ll be located to the left of the moon before 8:00 PM.

RACHEL
However, the moon is on the move, so it covers up Aldebaran a short time later.

PAUL
When one astronomical body covers up another, it’s called an occultation.

RACHEL
And the occultation of Aldebaran begins at 8:12 PM on the 12th.

PAUL
You’ll want to start watching a good five minutes earlier.

RACHEL
That way, you have time to locate Aldebaran near the bright moon.

PAUL
Watch Aldebaran carefully, it will wink out before reaching the bright limb of the moon.

RACHEL
The disappearance of Aldebaran will be instantaneous, as the star is only 150 thousandths of a degree across.

PAUL
Its reappearance will be equally abrupt at 9:12 PM.

RACHEL
Except this time, Aldebaran reappears along the bright edge of the lunar limb.

PAUL
The bright edge of the moon will make it more difficult to detect the initial reappearance of Aldebaran.

RACHEL
So carefully watch the upper right edge of the moon before 9:10 PM.

PAUL
Stargazers will find two helpful star charts on the Idaho Skies blog and Twitter account.

RACHEL
The moon is full the next day on the 13th.

PAUL
Or the day it’s opposite the sun in the sky.

RACHEL
Meaning it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise.

PAUL
The full moon in November is called the Cold Moon by some Native American cultures.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 12th and 13th of December.

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.