Idaho Skies Transcript for March 17th, 18th, and 19th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 17th, 18th, 19th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Theses are your last days to see Venus before it approaches too close to the sun.

PAUL
However, if stargazers wait until the 19th, they’ll see Venus and Mercury close together.

RACHEL
To see these two planets, stargazers need look in the low west at about 7:40 PM.

PAUL
Venus will appear as the very bright star just above the horizon, so it can’t be missed.

RACHEL
Tiny little Mercury is fainter than Venus and located to the left of the planet.

PAUL
The angular distance between Mercury and Venus is nine degrees.

RACHEL
That makes their span just under the width of your fist when viewed at arm’s length.

PAUL
However, in the solar system, the planets are very far apart.

RACHEL
Mercury is located on the other side of the solar system while Venus is closer to Earth than the sun.

PAUL
Both are rocky worlds that are smaller than Earth.

RACHEL
But the differences between them and Earth are surprising.

PAUL
Mercury is an airless world that looks a lot like the moon.

RACHEL
Venus is a world with an atmosphere denser and hotter than Earth’s atmosphere.

PAUL
Both are hot, but surprisingly, Venus is hotter than Mercury.

RACHEL
Yep, even though Mercury is closer to the sun, Venus has a hotter surface temperature.

PAUL
The increased surface temperature is due a run-away greenhouse effect.

RACHEL
That effect is created by the planet’s carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 17th, 18th, and 19th of March.

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.