Idaho Skies Transcript for March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Quick, name the two innermost planets.

PAUL
Easy, Mercury and Venus.

RACHEL
Well, these two worlds appear side by side on the evening of the 3rd.

PAUL
Venus will be bright and easy to see.

RACHEL
While Mercury will be fainter and just to the right of Venus.

PAUL
However, the two planets will appear very close together.

RACHEL
Which means you’ll see significant changes in their relative positions each night this week.

PAUL
To find Mercury and Venus, look in the low west at around 7 PM.

RACHEL
This will be after sunset when it’s safe to search this close to the sun.

PAUL
You won’t have a long time to look for them however, as they’re close to the horizon and setting soon.

RACHEL
It’ll be much easier to see them if you have a clear and low western horizon.

PAUL
So looking for them from the foothills would be ideal.

RACHEL
But even a yard will be fine, if your western horizon isn’t blocked by homes and trees.

PAUL
You might need a pair of binoculars to help you locate fainter Mercury.

RACHEL
But after you find it, you should be able to see it without optical aid.

PAUL
Since Venus is traveling away from the sun, it will appear higher above the horizon each evening.

RACHEL
But Mercury is on a tear and climbs faster than Venus until it peaks mid-month.

PAUL
Then tiny Mercury starts approaching the sun.

RACHEL
That means big differences in their relative positions for the rest of this month.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of March.

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.