Idaho Skies Transcript for March 24th, 25th, and 26th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 24th, 25th, and 26th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
The solar system is made of three types of planets.

RACHEL
The first type is terrestrial, like Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

PAUL
These planets have dense metallic cores and rocky mantles.

RACHEL
What atmospheres they have are low mass, compared to the mass of the planet overall.

PAUL
Then there are the gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn.

RACHEL
These planets have rocky cores that are more massive than the terrestrial planets.

PAUL
However, their hydrogen and helium atmospheres are far more massive than their cores.

RACHEL
In fact, the gas giants consist of 90% hydrogen and helium.

PAUL
And their composition is closer to the sun than any other planet.

RACHEL
So in the case of Jupiter, astronomers sometimes refer to it as a failed star.

PAUL
In other words, if it had more gas and it would light up like a second sun.

RACHEL
The final type is the ice giants, like Uranus and Neptune.

PAUL
These planets have massive cores and a thick mantle of gases.

RACHEL
But unlike the gas giants, their atmospheres consist mostly of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium.

PAUL
What the solar system does not have are Super Earths.

RACHEL
These have been detected in solar systems around other stars.

PAUL
A Super Earth is a rocky planet like a terrestrial planet, but as massive as Neptune.

RACHEL
That’s approximately four times heavier than Earth.

PAUL
I guess three out of four isn’t bad.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 24th, 25th, and 26th of March.

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.