Idaho Skies Transcript for October 3rd and 4th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
The Beehive star cluster is one of the most attractive star clusters. It’s a galactic star cluster, or one without a central concentration or spherical outline. And the stars in a galactic star clusters are born at the same time from the same cloud of dust and gas. But they’re relative young star clusters compared to the globular star clusters.

RACHEL
While globular star clusters can date for the beginning of the universe, or 12 billion years ago, galactic star clusters are only tens to hundreds of millions of years old. But galactic star clusters don’t die young because their stars die that soon. They only last for millions of years because by then, their stars will have drifted apart. And astronomers believe the sun was probably born in such a star cluster 4.55 billion years ago.

PAUL
To see the Beehive on the 4th, first look at the moon at about 4:00 AM. Then aim your binoculars at the waning crescent moon and you’ll see the Beehive third lunar diameters away. Specifically, to the moon’s upper left. The star cluster will appear roughly three times larger than the moon. And you’ll be able to detect more stars if you place the moon outside your field of view.

RACHEL
The Beehive is one of the closest star clusters to the solar system. Astronomers believe its distance is around 570 light years. Did you know that they have discovered at least six solar systems in the Beehive? The problem is that the Beehive is 1/7th the age of the solar system. So there’s almost no chance those planets have anything more than single cell life.
 
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of October.

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

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.