Idaho Skies Transcript for February 3rd to 5th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 3rd, 4th, and 5th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The first spacecraft to soft land on another world did so on February 3rd, 1966.

PAUL
The spacecraft’s name was Luna 9 and it was launched by the Soviet Union.

RACHEL
The 218 pound spacecraft set down on the moon at a speed of 14 mph.

PAUL
To protect it from that landing speed, it was cushioned with a landing bag.

RACHEL
Luna 9 transmitted a total of nine images from the moon.

PAUL
The funny thing however, is who were the first people to publicly release the Luna 9 images to the world.

RACHEL
British astronomers at Jodrell Bank radio telescope were monitoring radio transmissions from Luna 9.

PAUL
From the sound of the signals, they realized the signal had the same format of a fax machine.

RACHEL
So the astronomers attached a fax machine to their radio telescope and printed images of the lunar surface.

PAUL
They released the images to the media before the Soviet Union.

RACHEL
Ouch! That had to sting a little bit.

PAUL
You’ll find the first quarter moon between two nice star clusters on the 4th.

RACHEL
The star clusters are the Pleiades and Hyades, both of which are very nice star clusters for your binoculars.

PAUL
This means the moon’s presence makes this an excellent astronomical opportunity for your binoculars.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of February.

PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.

For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.