Welcome to Idaho Skies for June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Venus, the Morning Star this month, reaches greatest western elongation on the 3rd.
PAUL
Greatest elongation means the planet appears at is at its greatest angular distance from the sun.
RACHEL
It also means the position of Venus won’t appear to change significantly for the next three weeks.
PAUL
Venus isn't the only planet boldly standing out this week.
RACHEL
Because stargazers will find a bright star with pale yellow tint next to the moon on the night of the 3rd.
PAUL
The star is Jupiter, the mightiest planet in the solar system.
RACHEL
Jupiter is mighty; it has a diameter 11 times larger than Earth.
PAUL
And a mass over 300 times greater.
RACHEL
I find a mass 300 times greater than Earth's surprisingly low.
PAUL
How do you mean?
RACHEL
Well, a diameter 11 times greater than Earth's means a volume over 1,200 times greater than Earth's.
PAUL
Oh, and you're surprised the mass is only 300 times greater than Earth's and not 1,200 times greater.
RACHEL
That's right. Jupiter seems to be awfully light for such a large planet.
PAUL
The reason why is that Jupiter is mostly hydrogen and helium and not silicate rock and iron like Earth.
RACHEL
I see, so it's just a matter of different compositions between Jupiter and Earth.
PAUL
Yep. Jupiter is more like the sun than terrestrial planets like Earth.
RACHEL
Which is why Jupiter is called a failed star.
PAUL
That's right. If it had ten times more mass, Jupiter would fuse hydrogen and shine like a second star.
RACHEL
Then Earth would experience roughly six months of nights where it wasn’t truly dark.
PAUL
And such may be the case on some of the exoplanets astronomers have discovered.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of June.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment