Idaho Skies Transcript for November 20th and 21st.

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 20th and 21st. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Hey moon watchers, the moon reappears on the evening of the 20th.

PAUL
It’s a very thin crescent that evening, so it might be difficult to see.

RACHEL
Especially if there are any obstructions on your southwestern horizon.

PAUL
Helping you find the moon will be Saturn.

RACHEL
So first find Saturn; it’s the faintly tinted star in the low southwest at 6:15 PM.

PAUL
Once you’ve located Saturn, then look for the moon just to the upper right of Saturn.

RACHEL
The moon is only two days old, so it’s younger than most people have ever seen it.

PAUL
That also means you won’t see much detail along the lunar limb in your binoculars.

RACHEL
However, a small telescope might show some craters.

PAUL
What craters are visible will be turned nearly edge-on.

RACHEL
So they’ll appear as very thin ovals.

PAUL
You might be able to detect earthshine on the 20th, if you can see the moon in dark enough skies.

RACHEL
If you don’t see earthshine on the 20th, then try again each evening starting on the 21st.

PAUL
The moon and Saturn are an interesting study in contrasts.

RACHEL
The moon is one-quarter the diameter of Earth and Saturn is nine larger than Earth.

PAUL
The moon is a dry rocky world and Saturn is a gas giant.

RACHEL
The first spacecraft visit to the moon occurred in 1959 and the first spacecraft visit to Saturn occurred in 1979.

PAUL
And of course, Saturn as a beautiful ring whereas the moon has just craters.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 20th and 21st of November.

PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

RACHEL
...and Paul.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.