Idaho Skies Transcript for May 15th and 16th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 15th and 16th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

BRING DOWN MUSIC

RACHEL
Williamina Fleming was born 160 years ago on the 15th.

PAUL
What is Ms. Fleming know for?

RACHEL
She was an American astronomer who began her career working at the Harvard College Observatory in 1881.

PAUL
At this time, observatories relied on people to make mathematical calculations of observational data.

RACHEL
These observatory staff were known as computers.

PAUL
One of the thorny problems astronomers were trying to solve in the late 19th century was developing a logical way to classify stars.

RACHEL
So Williamina devised a system of classifying stars by the amount of hydrogen in their spectra.

PAUL
The data she relied on came from observing stars through a spectroscope…

RACHEL
…which is a device that splits the light of stars into specific colors.

PAUL
Star spectrums were recorded on glass photographic plates in the 19th century.

RACHEL
And on account of the poor sensitivity of photographic plates back then, it could take a long time to collect enough light from a spectroscope.

PAUL
Then computers on the observatory staff spent additional hours measuring the location and brightness of the lines in a star’s spectrum.

RACHEL
Over her career, Willimaina classified over 10,000 stars.

PAUL
Including a type of star that was faint, but very hot.

RACHEL
And that was her discovery of the white dwarf star.

FADE IN MUSIC

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 15th and 16th of May.

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.