Idaho Skies Transcript for February 15th and 16th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 15th and 16th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Jupiter appears as the bright star beneath the moon on the morning of the 15th.

RACHEL
But you’ll need to go outside just after midnight to see Jupiter.

PAUL
However, since the 15th is a work day, you might prefer to get up a few minutes earlier on the morning instead of staying up late.

RACHEL
The moon is nearly third quarter, meaning your binoculars will show craters along the terminator of the moon.

PAUL
And of course, Jupiter’s four major satellites will be well placed for viewing.

RACHEL
Remember that when you look at the moon and Jupiter through your binoculars, you’re seeing them as Galileo did 407 years ago.

PAUL
Craters on the moon prove it’s not made of a perfect crystalline substance.

RACHEL
And the fact that the moon’s of Jupiter orbit the planet while the planet travels through the heavens proves there can be more than one center of motion in the solar system.

PAUL
Those are some of the arguments Galileo used to prove the Copernican Hypothesis.

RACHEL
Look closely at Jupiter and you could see four moon’s in your binoculars.

PAUL
From Jupiter and going left, the moons are Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede.

RACHEL
Because of its closeness to the glare of Jupiter, Io might be a little difficult to see.

PAUL
However, a small telescope or even spotting scope will have enough magnification to bring out Io.

RACHEL
Hey, what about that slightly fainter star below Jupiter?

PAUL
It’s Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 15th and 16th of February.

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.