Idaho Skies Transcript for May 30th and 31st

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 30th and 31st. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon parks close to Saturn early on the morning of the 31st.

PAUL
And even better, there are lots of star clusters and nebulae just left of the moon.

RACHEL
Saturn is currently located in the constellation of Sagittarius the Archer.

PAUL
This constellation represents a centaur with his bow and arrows.

RACHEL
But really, it looks more like a teapot of eight stars.

PAUL
Its handle is four stars on the left side of the constellation…

RACHEL
…and its spout is three stars on the right.

PAUL
In dark skies, you’ll see the Milky Way rising out of the spout of the Sagittarius teapot.

RACHEL
So the Milky Way looks a lot like steam coming up from the spout.

PAUL
Now Saturn is the mellow yellow star to the moon’s lower left.

RACHEL
And the star clusters and nebulae are about eight lunar diameters to the moon’s left.

PAUL
Unfortunately, binoculars are no help in viewing Saturn because the planet requires more magnification.

RACHEL
However, binoculars are very useful for the star clusters and nebulae.

PAUL
To see them, put the moon on the right side of your view and then scan a broad area on the left side of your binoculars for small fuzzy patches.

RACHEL
And if you find a small and perfectly-shaped circle of fuzz…

PAUL
…that will be a globular star cluster.

RACHEL
If you aimed even a moderate telescope at a globular star cluster, you’d find it’s packed with stars.

PAUL
Globular clusters have a stellar population anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million stars.

RACHEL
Just imagine what the nighttime sky inside a globular star cluster must look like. 

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 30th and 31st of May.

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

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.