Idaho Skies Transcript for October 6th, 7th, and 8th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 6th, 7th, and 8th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
What’s the relation between Aries and Uranus?

PAUL
Umm, one’s a planet and the other’s a constellation. So nothing?

RACHEL
Usually that’s true. However, this week the moon passes close to both.

PAUL
Let’s start with Aries then.

RACHEL
Sure, Aries the Ram is a small constellation of four stars.

PAUL
Unusually though, stargazers will only notice three of them.

RACHEL
They form a small flattened triangle that’s located to the upper left of the moon on the evening of the 6th.

PAUL
The brightest star of Aries is named Hamal and its located in the triangle’s left corner.

RACHEL
The name Hamal comes from the Arabic for head of the ram.

PAUL
It is 65 light years away. So if you’re 65 years old this year, the light of Hamal you see tonight left the year you were born.

RACHEL
Now what about Uranus?

PAUL
Well, Uranus is easily seen in binoculars, but it’s better to look for it outside of town’s bright lights.

RACHEL
So aim your binoculars at the moon after it gets dark on the 6th.

PAUL
Then put the moon just outside your view in the 7 o’clock position.

RACHEL
Uranus will appear as the star on the edge of your binoculars in the 1 o’clock position.

PAUL
Stargazers will see one star brighter than Uranus near that position.

RACHEL
But the star will be closer to the center of their binoculars.

PAUL
It only takes light 160 minutes to reach Uranus.

RACHEL
Meaning that Hamal is 214,000 times farther away from us than Uranus.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 6th, 7th, and 8th 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.