Idaho Skies Transcript for June 20th and 21st

PAUL

Welcome to Idaho Skies for June 20^th and 21^st. We’re your hosts, Paul…

 

RACHEL

…and Rachel.

 

PAUL

The moon’s at first quarter on the night of the 20^th.

 

RACHEL

So get you binoculars out, they’ll be perfect for observing this half orb.

 

PAUL

Stargazers will get their best view of craters and mountains by searching along the terminator.

 

RACHEL

And we don’t mean the movie Terminator.

 

PAUL

That’s right. In the astronomical sense, the terminator is the boundary between day and night.

 

RACHEL

Shadows cast by the rising sun are longest there.

 

PAUL

And at first quarter, those shadows appear perpendicular to observers on Earth.

 

RACHEL

Hey! It’s the first day of summer late on the 20^th.

 

PAUL

That’s when the Northern hemisphere experiences its longest day and shortest night.

 

RACHEL

During that short night, look for two bright stars forming a vertical line with the moon.

 

PAUL

The fainter of the pair is Spica and you’ll find it just below the moon.

 

RACHEL

Now draw a line from Spica up to the lunar terminator.

 

PAUL

And extend that line four times farther to a brighter star nearly overhead.

 

RACHEL

That star should have a noticeable yellow-orange tint to it.

 

PAUL

It’s named Arcturus and it’s the brightest star in Bootes the Herdsman.

 

RACHEL

Here’s a way to remember the location and name of these two stars.

 

PAUL

Shift your view to the handle of the Big Dipper…

 

RACHEL

…and follow the arc of the handle to Arcturus.

 

PAUL

Then drive a spike to Spica.

 

RACHEL

That’s Idaho Skies for the 20^th and 21^st of June.

 

PAUL

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

 

For Idaho Skies this is Paul…

 

RACHEL

…and Rachel.

 

PAUL

Dark skies and bright stars.