Idaho Skies Transcript for May 31st and June 1st

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 31st and June 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
On the 31st, the moon passes below Leo the Lion.

RACHEL
That means the bright star to the moon’s right is Regulus, the brightest star in Leo.

PAUL
Regulus is called Alpha Leonis by astronomers on account that it’s Leo’s brightest star.

RACHEL
It's a star nearly four times more massive than the sun.

PAUL
That extra mass puts the star’s hydrogen core under more heat and pressure than is found in the sun's core.

RACHEL
Since heat and pressure are the two factors driving fusion, Regulus lives like a rock star and is 288 times brighter than the sun.

PAUL
That's why it appears so bright when it's 79 light years away.

RACHEL
From a point at Regulus, our puny sun is invisible.

PAUL
In fact, a stargazer would need at least a pair of binoculars to see it.

RACHEL
Hey! Can you see the backwards question mark of stars above Regulus?

PAUL
They represent the back of the head and mane of Leo.

RACHEL
It might help you see Leo’s mane if you knew that you’re looking at the side of Leo.

PAUL
And that Leo is sitting down like the Sphinx of Egypt.

RACHEL
Stargazers will find the moon at the first quarter phase on the night of the 1st.

PAUL
First quarter, or when the moon appears half full, is among the best phases to go moon watching.

RACHEL
So get your binoculars out and scan along the lunar terminator or boundary between day and night.

PAUL
With steady binoculars, you'll be able to count dozens of craters.

RACHEL
The largest crater stargazers can see is named Clavius and it’s visible in the extreme south of the moon.

PAUL
The crater is 137 miles across, or about the distance between Nampa and Twin Falls.

RACHEL
It’s was also the location of the moon base on 2001: A Space Odyssey.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 31st of May and 1st of June.

RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.