Idaho Skies Transcript for July 21st to 23rd

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for July 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. We’re your hosts, Paul...


RACHEL
...and Rachel.


PAUL
The moon turns new on the 23rd.


RACHEL
It’s just one more lunar month before the total solar eclipse that will grace Idaho skies in August.


PAUL
This month, the moon passes five degrees south of the moon.


RACHEL
So it’s not creeping closer and closer to the sun each month as we approach August’s solar eclipse.


PAUL
If you haven’t yet, get your solar viewing filter now.


RACHEL
Remember that you can never look at the sun without eye protection.


PAUL
The only time you can safely look at the sun is during the totality phase of a solar eclipse.


RACHEL
Because during totality, the moon completely obscures the sun’s light.


PAUL
In place of the sun’s photosphere, or bright outer shell, you’ll see million-degree plasma streaming away from the sun.


RACHEL
The appearance of the corona is strongly affected by the sun’s magnetic field.


PAUL
Therefore, we won’t know the exact shape of the sun’s corona until the time of the eclipse.


RACHEL
If you can’t get a solar filter in time, there’s a chance local libraries will have some available.


PAUL
Astronomers are hoping to get images of the solar corona all throughout the eclipse’s path across the United States.


RACHEL
That way they can combine these images together into a movie.


PAUL
Then we’ll see how the shape and size of the corona changes minute by minute for over an hour.


RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of July.


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.