Idaho Skies Transcript for June 22nd, 23rd, and 24th

RACHEL

Welcome to Idaho Skies for June 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

 

PAUL

…and Paul.

  

RACHEL

Hey stargazers, get your binoculars out.

 

PAUL

For on the 23^rd, you’ll find the gibbous moon very close to Jupiter and Zubenelgenubi.

 

RACHEL

Both are excellent targets for you binoculars.

 

PAUL

You’ll find dark lunar seas and mountain ranges in the moon’s northern hemisphere.

 

RACHEL

And lots more craters in its Southern hemisphere.

 

PAUL

Aim your binoculars at Jupiter and you’ll find its four largest satellites forming a line with the planet.

 

RACHEL

The easiest moon to see is Ganymede and it’s on Jupiter’s left.

 

PAUL

With increasing difficulty, you’ll find Callisto and then Io even closer to Jupiter.

 

RACHEL

On the right side of Jupiter is its icy moon Europa.

 

PAUL

The double star Zubenelgenubi is located to the lower left of Jupiter.

 

RACHEL

And it can be split into two stars with binoculars.

 

PAUL

However, this observation will be easier if you can prop your binoculars on a steady object.

 

RACHEL

Speaking of Europa, there’s new evidence that geysers on this moon are spewing water into space.

 

PAUL

So NASA is developing a space mission to analyze this water.

 

RACHEL

The Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch between 2022 and 2025.

 

PAUL

It will make some 40 close passes to Europa and try to capture some of the water that its geysers are sending into space.

 

RACHEL

An analysis of that water may show signs of primitive life forms living in the subsurface ocean of Europa.

  

PAUL

That’s Idaho Skies for the 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^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.

 

RACHEL

Dark skies and bright stars.