Idaho Skies Transcript for May 28th and 29th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 28th and 29th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
Dr. Frank Drake was born on May 28th, 1930.

RACHEL
Drake is an astronomer and best known for his equation for determining how many civilizations exist the Milky Way.

PAUL
His was the first such equation ever created and very important for the factors that it identified.

RACHEL
So we call it the Drake Equation.

PAUL
The equation is as follows, capital N equals R sub-star times f sub-p times n sub-e times f sub-l times f sub-i times f sub-c times capital L.

RACHEL
Whoa, we need to explain this.

PAUL
Okay. So capital N is the number of civilians active in the galaxy at any time.

RACHEL
R sub-star is the average rate that stars are formed in the Milky Way

PAUL
f sub-p is the fraction of stars with solar systems

RACHEL
n sub-e is the number of planets per solar system that could support life

PAUL
f sub-l is the fraction of potentially habitable planets that actually develop life.

RACHEL
f sub-i is the fraction of life-bearing planets that develop intelligence.

PAUL
f sub-c is the fraction of planets with intelligent life that develop communications that we can receive on Earth.

RACHEL
And capital L is the length of time that civilizations with communications can be detected on Earth.

PAUL
Astronomers and the Kepler space telescope are helping us understand the factors involving stars and planets.

RACHEL
But other factors, like the fraction of planets that develop intelligent life are completely unknown to anyone.

PAUL
So some have estimated we’re the only intelligent lifeform in the galaxy.

RACHEL
While others believe, we could be one of hundreds of civilians. 

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th and 29th of May.

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.