Idaho Skies Transcript for the weekend of December 20th

STEPHEN

Welcome to Idaho Skies for the weekend of December 20^th. We’re your hosts, Stephen…

DAN

…and Dan.

STEPHEN

Astronomically speaking, winter begins on the 21^st at 9:19 PM. At that time, the sun appears its farthest south of Earth’s equator. With the sun that low in our sky, the days are their shortest and the sun’s light its most spread out. The combination of low sunlight intensity, short days, and long nights make our winter weather very cold.

DAN

The sun’s position in the sky drifts north during the winter and spring and then south during summer and autumn. When the sun reaches its northerly or southerly extreme, astronomers call it a solstice. The word solstice means sun standing still because on those days, the sun’s movement north and south appears to halt for a few days. 

STEPHEN

At 6:00 AM the morning after the winter solstice, stargazers will find the moon seven degrees above Mars. Seven degrees is a little less than the width of your fist when viewed at the end of your outstretched arm. Mars won’t be very bright since is 209 million miles. That’s just too far away for the reflected light of such a small planet.  

DAN

Slightly fainter and closer to the moon’s left is a star named Zubenelgenubi. That’s a funny sounding name for a star that’s really a pair of stars. Good binoculars can split this star into two. Some people in fact may have good enough vision that they can split it without optical aid. Are you one?

STEPHEN

Not me.

That’s Idaho Skies for the weekend of December 20^th.   

DAN

Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.

For Idaho Skies this is Dan…

STEPHEN

…and Stephen.

DAN

Dark skies and bright stars.