Idaho Skies Transcript for August 15th and 16th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for August 15th and 16th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
The moon is making its celestial rounds and checking out the stellar neighborhood.

RACHEL
And on the evening of the 16th, it will be checking out Jupiter’s neighborhood.

PAUL
In fact, the moon will only be six degrees away from Jupiter.

RACHEL
Meaning you can see Jupiter and the moon together in your binoculars.

PAUL
Also, be sure to take a look at the star just below Jupiter.

RACHEL
It’s Zubenelgenubi, the second brightest star in Libra the Scales.

PAUL
Which is a little odd, since the star is designated as the alpha star of the constellation.

RACHEL
Zubenelgenubi, or Alpha Librae is a widely-spaced double star.

PAUL
That means it’s easy to split into component stars using binoculars.

RACHEL
Zubenelgenubi by the way is 75 light years away.

PAUL
Since it’s so easy to separate the component stars, they must be widely spaced apart.

RACHEL
They’re so widely spaced that it takes the light of one of the stars two months to reach its companion star.

PAUL
So if there are civilians on planets around each star, they could send and receive messages every four Earth months.

RACHEL
However, astronomers have determined the stars are only one billion years old.

PAUL
Which is probably too young to develop intelligent life, if Earth is a typical example.

RACHEL
So look for Jupiter, the moon, and Zubenelgenubi on the night of the 16th.

PAUL
When they’ll be less than seven degrees apart.

RACHEL
And therefore, visible at the same time in your binoculars.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 15th and 16th of August.

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.