Idaho Skies Transcript for November 9th, 10th, and 11th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 9th, 10th, and 11th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
The moon was new on the 7th and will reappear as a thin crescent on the 11th.

RACHEL
The waxing moon has company that evening. Look in the low southwest at around 8:00 PM and you’ll find a pale star to the moon’s lower right. The star is Saturn, the fifth planet of the solar system. You’ll need a telescope to see its rings and largest moon, Titan. However, a spotting scope capable of magnifying 25 times is sufficient for seeing the planet’s rings. But you won’t have long to see them.

PAUL
That’s because Saturn is located in the constellation of Sagittarius the Archer. Both Sagittarius and Saturn are quickly approaching the sun and will be too close in a few more weeks. Now actually, Sagittarius is not approaching the sun. Earth instead is traveling to the other side of the sun from where Sagittarius appears to be located. That movement changes the perspective between Earth’s horizon and Sagittarius and that makes the constellation approach closer and closer to the sun. 

RACHEL
Since the moon is only a few days old, be sure to look for Earthshine. Binoculars will make it easier to see this faint light on the dark portion of the moon. Over the next few days, see if earthshine makes the lunar markings visible in your binoculars. In dark and clear skies, you should be able to see lunar maria, or lunar seas of frozen lava faintly in Earthshine. 

PAUL
For listeners interested in the mythology of the constellations, Sagittarius is a Centaur, or half man and half horse. The centaur’s name is Chiron, but he wasn’t wild and misbehaved like the other centaurs. Chiron was instead wise and gentle because his parents were a Greek titan and nymph. He’s most famous for teaching the arts to the Greek hero Achilles.   

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 9th, 10th, and 11th of November.

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.