Idaho Skies Transcript for September 29th and 30th and October 1st

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 29th and 30th, and October 1st. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Stargazers looking towards the north will find the Big Dipper very close to the horizon.

PAUL
Back in the early spring, it was high above the Northern horizon.

RACHEL
Over the course of one year, the Big Dipper makes one complete revolution around the North Star.

PAUL
It does the same thing in the course of 24 hours.

RACHEL
Actually, it does this in 23 hours and 56 minutes.

PAUL
That 4 minute difference from a 24 hour day is important.

RACHEL
It means all stars, and not just those in the Big Dipper, rise four minutes earlier every night.

PAUL
Which also means the stars appear to rotate a little counter-clockwise each night.

RACHEL
Over the course of the year, each night’s four minute shift adds up to 24 hours.

PAUL
And therefore, the stars begin the new year right where they were last year.

RACHEL
Why the 4 minute shift each day?

PAUL
Because Earth is orbiting the sun.

RACHEL
After each day, Earth shifts 1 degree further in its orbit around the sun.

PAUL
This makes the boundary between day and night shift one degree relative to the sun.

RACHEL
And the angle between Earth and the sun is responsible for when sunset occurs.

PAUL
And one degree equates to 4 minutes.

RACHEL
So this October, watch the Big Dipper skim the Northern horizon.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 29th and 30th of September and the 1st of October.

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.