Idaho Skies Transcript for March 20th and 21st

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 20th and 21st. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Finally! Spring begins on the morning of the 20th.

RACHEL
Spring, by definition, begins the moment the sun’s path above Earth’s surface passes directly over the equator.

PAUL
A stargazer will notice that during the summer, the sun rises north of due east.

RACHEL
And that the sun sets north of due west.

PAUL
This is a sign that the sun’s path across the sky is higher in the summer.

RACHEL
And therefore, the sun’s path above Earth is above the equator.

PAUL
The reason why is because Earth’s spin axis isn’t straight up and down.

RACHEL
That’s straight up and down, relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun.

PAUL
Instead, Earth’s spin axis is tilted 22.5 degrees.

RACHEL
And when that tilt faces towards the sun, the sun appears above the equator for us in the Northern hemisphere.

PAUL
Also, the days are longer and the sun shines more directly upon the surface.

RACHEL
Which means Idaho experiences spring and summer weather.

PAUL
Saturn appears just three degrees away from the moon on the first day of spring.

RACHEL
So after waking up on the morning of the 20th, look for the moon in the southeast.

PAUL
Saturn will be the pale yellow-white star to the moon’s lower right.

RACHEL
The distance between them is close enough that they’re both visible at the same time in binoculars.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 20th and 21st of March.

RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.