Idaho Skies Transcript for 19th, 20th, and 21st

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 19th, 20th, and 21st. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

BRING DOWN MUSIC

RACHEL
The moon’s at last quarter on the 19th.

PAUL
That’s a great phase to go lunar exploring with your binoculars.

RACHEL
However, you’ll need to go outside after midnight to see the moon.

PAUL
Stargazers will notice that the western hemisphere of the moon contains a large lunar maria.

RACHEL
The maria’s name is the Ocean of Storms and it spans over half the circumference of the visible moon.

PAUL
Which makes it the largest maria visible on the moon.

RACHEL
Way beyond the moon is Neptune, a planet too dim to see with the unaided eye.

PAUL
Fortunately, it’s not too dim for binoculars.

RACHEL
However, on account of its faintness, the planet is difficult to find without the aid of a landmark.

PAUL
And this is where the moon comes in handy on the morning of the 20th.

RACHEL
That morning, Neptune appears three degrees to the moon’s upper right.

PAUL
Which is just under half the diameter of a binocular’s field of view.

RACHEL
So to locate Neptune, go outside at around 4:30 AM and point your binoculars at the moon.

PAUL
Then shift your binoculars to the upper right until the moon has just left the field of view.

RACHEL
Neptune will be the brightest star just to the lower left of the center of view.

PAUL
And it will be flanked closely by a second, but slightly fainter star just above it.

FADE IN MUSIC

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th, 20th, and 21st of May.

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.