Idaho Skies Transcript for November 23rd, 24th, and 25th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 23rd, 24th, and 25th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon is passing through the outskirts of the Hyades star cluster on the 23rd.

PAUL
The Hyades is a much larger star cluster than its neighbor the Pleiades. To the unaided eye, between half a dozen and a dozen stars are visible within the Hyades. With binoculars, several dozen and perhaps close to one hundred stars are visible. However, you’ll need to look in dark skies clear of haze to see that many stars.   

RACHEL
Like the Pleiades, in mythology the Hyades are also sisters. Their father was Atlas, the same father of the Pleiades. This makes the Hyades and Pleiades at least half-sisters, depending on which myth you choose to follow. Their brother was Hyas who was killed in a hunting accident. The Greeks therefore claimed that the Hyades were weeping for their lost brother. The time of the year that the Hyades rose with the sun was the rainy season for the Greeks. And this is may be why they associated the Hyades with weepiness. 

PAUL
The Hyades is not the only star cluster the moon appears close to. A smaller one, M-35 is close to the moon on the 24th. Their distance apart is only four degrees, which is just over half a binocular’s field of view. So to see this star cluster, aim your binoculars at the moon at around 11:00 PM on the 24th. Then shift the moon to the right side of your binoculars.

RACHEL
M-35 will appear near the middle of binoculars. The stars will be spread across an area about the size of the moon. At least a dozen stars should be visible in your binoculars if you view it from dark skies. Try to use your averted vision when viewing this cluster. That means not looking straight at the cluster, but looking at them with the edge of your vision. That way you’ll see signs of more stars as a brighter background haziness. 

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of November.

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

For Idaho Skies this is Paul…

PAUL
…and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.