Idaho Skies Transcript for February 18th and 19th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 18th and 19th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Early risers, look for a close encounter between Venus and Saturn.

RACHEL
Venus has been a morning fixture for months. Since it’s an inferior planet, it’s reaching its maximum distance above the horizon. This means its position doesn’t change very much from day to day. But Saturn is a superior planet and it’s relentlessly climbing higher every day.

PAUL
This week stargazers will see the position between Venus and Saturn change substantially every day. And on the morning of the 18th, the two planets will appear their closest together. Venus will be the brightest star in the low east-southeast and Saturn will appear slightly below it. Stargazers with binoculars will notice a third star in the region. That star is pi Sagittarii and its closer to Venus and fainter than Saturn.

RACHEL
Stargazers with a telescope can observe the rings around Saturn and the phase of Venus. Unfortunately, binoculars do not have enough magnification to do this. It takes at least a magnification of 25 power to see Saturn’s rings and it brightest satellite, Titan. The phase of Venus is easier to see when it’s closer to dawn, or when the sky is bringing to brighten. 

PAUL
Stargazers who don’t have free time early in the morning should check out the moon on the evening of the 18th. The moon will appear next to Leo the Lion and its brightest star, Regulus. Regulus means Little King in Latin, an appropriate name for the brightest star in the constellation of the lion. Look for a backwards question mark of stars rising above Regulus. This represents the back of the Lion’s mane. 

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th and 19th 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.