Idaho Skies Transcript for June 18th and 19th

RACHEL

Welcome to Idaho Skies for June 18^th and 19^th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

 

PAUL

…and Paul.

 

RACHEL

There’s a close encounter of the astronomical kind on the 19^th.

 

PAUL

Remember that on our last program, we said to keep your eye on Venus and the Beehive star cluster.

 

RACHEL

Well, on the 19^th, Venus skirts the edge of the Beehive.

 

PAUL

In binoculars, you’ll see the scattering of stars making up the Beehive, plus one additional member.

 

RACHEL

And that new member will be very bright compared to the rest of the star cluster.

 

PAUL

Astronomers have determined that there are about 1,000 stars residing inside the Beehive star cluster.

 

RACHEL

As in other star clusters, those stars formed from the same nebula.

 

PAUL

Based on spectroscopic measurements, astronomers have determined that this birth occurred about 624 million years ago.

 

RACHEL

Now compare that the age of Venus, which is seven times older, at 4,500 million years old.

 

PAUL

When the stars of the Beehive formed, Earth was in its Ediacaran Period.

 

RACHEL

Which is soon after massive glaciers covering its surface had melted.

 

PAUL

And the oceans became filled with simple plant and animal life.

 

RACHEL

These strange life forms would look nothing like the life forms that replaced them 100 million years later.

 

PAUL

Let alone the animals of today.

 

RACHEL

The Beehive star cluster is 577 light years away.

 

PAUL

Meaning that the light you see tonight left in the year 1441.

 

RACHEL

Compare that to the light you see from Venus, which left nine and a half minutes ago.

 

PAUL

That’s Idaho Skies for the 18^th and 19^th of June.

 

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.

 

PAUL

Dark skies and bright stars.