Idaho Skies Transcript for March 5th and 6th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 5th and 6th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Mercury and Venus make a close approach on the evening of the 5th and 6th.

PAUL
This is a very early evening event, so you’ll need to look for the pair shortly after sunset.

RACHEL
Just after 7:00 PM would be a good time, in fact.

PAUL
Stargazers won’t have much time to observe this pair because they’re so close to the sun.

RACHEL
And therefore, also close to the horizon.

PAUL
So stargazers have until 7:30 before the pair sets.

RACHEL
To find them, start searching in the very low west for Venus.

PAUL
It will be the only bright star that you’ll observe in that part of the sky.

RACHEL
Little Mercury is fainter and appears to the upper right of Venus.

PAUL
The spacing between them is very small, only 1.5 degrees.

RACHEL
Which is an angle a little wider than your thumb when viewed at the end of your outstretched arm.

PAUL
Stargazers will find binoculars helpful, since they’ll make Mercury appear brighter.

RACHEL
However, don’t use them until after the sun sets.

PAUL
Next, early risers will find the moon next to Jupiter late on the night of the 5th and early on the morning of the 6th.

RACHEL
Jupiter is that bright yellow-white star at the moon’s lower left.

PAUL
So get your binoculars out and start scanning along the moon’s terminator to see its many craters.

RACHEL
Then at Jupiter to see all four of its largest satellites forming a crooked line with Jupiter in the middle.

PAUL
From left to right, the moons are Callisto and Ganymede...

RACHEL
... and Io and Europa.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th and 6th of March.

RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog at idahoskies.blogspot.com for additional information.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.