Idaho Skies Transcript for October 15th and 16th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 15th and 16th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Earth’s Northern hemisphere recently passed the autumnal equinox. Meaning that its fall in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern.

PAUL
Mars, on the other hand, reaches the solstice on October 16th. But in case of Mars, it’s the winter solstice for its Northern hemisphere. Recall that the solstice and equinox occur as Earth’s spin axis, or poles tilt towards or away for the sun. So when a planet’s spin axis is tilted towards the sun, it’s summer in that hemisphere. And when it’s straight up and down, its either fall or spring.

RACHEL
Since Earth and Mars are independent worlds, their spin axes point in different directions. Earth’s spin axis points to Polaris, or the star at the end of the Little Dipper. While Mars’ spin axis points towards an area with no bright star. In fact, it’s an empty part of the sky northeast of Deneb.

PAUL
Deneb is the bright star nearly overhead these evenings. And the Martian North Pole points to a spot about the width of your fist northeast of Deneb. If you check this region out tonight, you’ll see for yourself that it’s very bare of bright stars. Meaning future Martian Boy Scouts will not have a guide star like they do on Earth.

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

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.