Transcript for December 21st and 22nd

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for December 21st and 22nd. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Winter begins on the morning of the 21st.

RACHEL
So give a warm welcome to the winter solstice.

PAUL
Wait, solstice?

RACHEL
The word solstice means sun standing still.

PAUL
Standing still?

RACHEL
Sure. It refers to the fact that the sun’s point of rising on the horizon doesn’t appear to shift for several days.

PAUL
Oh I see. Normally, stargazers would notice the sun rises in a more northerly point during the winter and spring.

RACHEL
And rising more southerly point during the summer and fall.

PAUL
So on the first day of winter, that motion temporarily halts.

RACHEL
Hence the name, solstice.

PAUL
Early risers will find three astronomical treats in the low southeast on the morning of the 22nd.

RACHEL
First is a very bright Jupiter below the second treat, the crescent moon.

PAUL
The third treat is a slightly fainter star below Jupiter, the star Spica.

RACHEL
Spica is the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden.

PAUL
Finally, earthshine or the faint illumination on the dark portion of the moon may also be visible that morning.

RACHEL
A pair of binoculars will come in handy for seeing earthshine.

PAUL
Which is actually sunlight, but reflected from Earth first.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st and 22nd 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.