Idaho Skies Transcript for April 27th, 28th, and 29th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for April 27th, 28th, and 29th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
This weekend stargazers will find Venus resting between two star clusters.

PAUL
To see them, stargazers need to look in the low west-northwest as it’s getting dark.

RACHEL
They’re looking for a star impossible to miss, the brilliant Evening Star or Venus.

PAUL
Using your binoculars will be a good idea, since the star clusters are close to the horizon.

RACHEL
So use your binoculars to scan both the left and right sides of Venus.

PAUL
The Pleiades will be on Venus’ right and the Hyades on its left.

RACHEL
And Venus will be dead center between them on the evening of the 28th.

PAUL
Hey, the moon is full this weekend.

RACHEL
The full moon in April is called the Grass Moon by some cultures.

PAUL
And this year, the Grass Moon passes just above Jupiter on the 29th.

RACHEL
These are fine objects for your binoculars, so have them handy.

PAUL
The moon will be blindingly bright through binoculars, so be warned.

RACHEL
You’ll really want to aim them at Jupiter, or the yellowish star beneath the moon.

PAUL
To Jupiter’s upper right will appear a star that’s actually its second largest satellite, Callisto.

RACHEL
The other three Galilean Satellites are too close to Jupiter’s glare for binoculars to show them tonight.

PAUL
Before going inside for the night, we have one more target.

RACHEL
Aim your binoculars at the star that’s just below the Moon and closer than Jupiter.

PAUL
This is Zubenelgenubi, a double star.

RACHEL
And good binoculars are capable of showing you both components.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 27th, 28th, and 29th of April.

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.