Idaho Skies Transcript for February 8th, 9th, and 10th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 8th, 9th, and 10th. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
Mars and Uranus are very close together this week, but let’s start with an easier target, the moon.

RACHEL
By the evening of the 8th, the waxing crescent moon will appear in the low west-southwest after it gets dark. It’s four days old, or far enough away from the sun that stargazers will notice Earthshine illuminating its dark portion. This portion of the moon is experiencing night, so no direct sunlight is shining on it surface. The only light it receives is what was reflected from Earth.

PAUL
Use your binoculars. Earthshine can be seen with the unaided eye, but binoculars gather so much more light that you’ll be able to see surface features on the moon. Since Earthshine is not like morning sunlight, your binoculars won’t let you see details like craters and mountains. Instead, you’ll see maria or lunar seas. Look especially for a large round patch in the moon’s upper left. That will be Mare Imbrium, or the Sea of Rains.

RACHEL
This next object will definitely require your binoculars. Uranus the solar system’s sixth planet and it shines at a magnitude of 5.8. Now, good eyes and dark skies will let you see down to a slightly fainter 6th magnitude. But dark skies are not what we have in the Treasure Valley. However, if you get out from under your local street light, binoculars will let you see objects fainter than Uranus – if you know where to look.

PAUL
This is why the moon and Mars will come in handy on Sunday the 10th. At around 8:00 PM, aim your binoculars at the moon. Then place the moon on the left side of your binoculars. Mars will appear as the orangish star on the right, so you can’t miss it. Notice that Mars is the top star in an equilateral triangle of stars that spans about 1/4th of your binocular’s field of view. The fainter of the three stars in this triangle is Uranus. You’ll find a star map on our twitter account. 

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 8th, 9th, and 10th of February.

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.