RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 21st and 22nd. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
There’s a close encounter in the evening sky on the 21st.
PAUL
But it’s an astronomical close encounter and not the extraterrestrial type.
RACHEL
Stargazers going outside early on the night of the 21st will see a star very close to the moon.
PAUL
That star is Regulus, which represents the heart of Leo the Lion.
RACHEL
Regulus is also the brightest star of Leo.
PAUL
You might want to get your binoculars out for this one.
RACHEL
That’s because Regulus is on the right side, or the illuminated half of the moon.
PAUL
So the glare will be a little bit on the strong side.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, the moon will not cover up or occult Regulus.
PAUL
Although this does happen during some months.
RACHEL
One reason that the moon doesn’t occult Regulus every month is that the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted
PAUL
By 5 degrees compared Earth’s orbital plane around the sun, in fact.
RACHEL
That still doesn’t explain why the moon occults Regulus some years and not others.
PAUL
The reason for the variation is that the lunar orbital tilt spins in space.
RACHEL
So like a spinning top about to fall over, the direction that the lunar orbit’s tilt is leaning changes over time.
PAUL
In fact, in a cycle lasting 19 years.
RACHEL
And there are other astronomical motions to make things even more complicated.
PAUL
Combined together, they create irregular patterns to the occultation of Regulus.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st and 22nd of May.
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.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 18th, 19th, and 20th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 18th, 19th, and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Start checking out the moon out every night this week.
PAUL
You’re looking for earthshine on the moon’s dark portion.
RACHEL
It’s best seen through binoculars, but still visible without them when you know what you’re looking for.
PAUL
Hey, what pairs well with the moon?
RACHEL
Ummm, maybe a star cluster?
PAUL
Then stargazers are in luck.
RACHEL
For on the night of the 19th, the moon appears very close to the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
You’ll need binoculars to enjoy this pairing.
RACHEL
And stargazers don’t need to leave town to see this outstanding star cluster.
PAUL
However, they should get out from under the street lights.
RACHEL
Begin by aiming your binoculars at the moon.
PAUL
Then look 5 degrees to the moon’s upper left.
RACHEL
For a sense of angular scale, most binoculars have a field of view of 7 degrees.
PAUL
This means you should shift your binoculars to place the moon just outside your view in the 4 o’clock position.
RACHEL
The Beehive will appear as a small sprinkle of stars at the upper left of the center of your binoculars.
PAUL
You should see around two dozen member stars in a small space.
RACHEL
Remember that all those stars were born from the same cloud of dust and gas.
PAUL
And over millions of more years, they will drift apart.
RACHEL
So enjoy them now while you can.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th, 19th, and 20th of May.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 18th, 19th, and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Start checking out the moon out every night this week.
PAUL
You’re looking for earthshine on the moon’s dark portion.
RACHEL
It’s best seen through binoculars, but still visible without them when you know what you’re looking for.
PAUL
Hey, what pairs well with the moon?
RACHEL
Ummm, maybe a star cluster?
PAUL
Then stargazers are in luck.
RACHEL
For on the night of the 19th, the moon appears very close to the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
You’ll need binoculars to enjoy this pairing.
RACHEL
And stargazers don’t need to leave town to see this outstanding star cluster.
PAUL
However, they should get out from under the street lights.
RACHEL
Begin by aiming your binoculars at the moon.
PAUL
Then look 5 degrees to the moon’s upper left.
RACHEL
For a sense of angular scale, most binoculars have a field of view of 7 degrees.
PAUL
This means you should shift your binoculars to place the moon just outside your view in the 4 o’clock position.
RACHEL
The Beehive will appear as a small sprinkle of stars at the upper left of the center of your binoculars.
PAUL
You should see around two dozen member stars in a small space.
RACHEL
Remember that all those stars were born from the same cloud of dust and gas.
PAUL
And over millions of more years, they will drift apart.
RACHEL
So enjoy them now while you can.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th, 19th, and 20th of May.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 16th and 17th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 16th and 17th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Hey stargazers, on the 17th look for the three day old moon.
RACHEL
Its thin crescent will be visible shortly after it gets dark.
PAUL
And remain visible in the low west-northwest until about 10:30 PM.
RACHEL
Stargazers will see that the moon has planetary company on the 17th.
PAUL
Its companion is Venus, or the Evening Star.
RACHEL
Venus will be so bright that you might see it first.
PAUL
The moon will appear fainter than Venus appears and be located to its left.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will give you the best view of the crescent moon.
PAUL
Unfortunately, you need a telescope to see the phase of Venus.
RACHEL
If you have one, then look at Venus before the sky gets very dark.
PAUL
That way, the glare of Venus won’t wash out your view of the planet’s phase.
RACHEL
Currently, Venus is located on the other side of the solar system.
PAUL
Meaning it has a gibbous phase, or that it appears almost full.
RACHEL
So Venus is nearly the opposite phase of the moon.
PAUL
However, Venus is approaching our side of the solar system.
RACHEL
And by September, the planet will appear as a crescent.
PAUL
And it’ll be a crescent large enough to be seen through binoculars.
RACHEL
So for now, enjoy the moon and Evening Star together.
PAUL
And watch the moon’s crescent increase in extent each night.
RACHEL
And for the appearance of earthshine over the next few days.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th and 17th of May.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 16th and 17th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Hey stargazers, on the 17th look for the three day old moon.
RACHEL
Its thin crescent will be visible shortly after it gets dark.
PAUL
And remain visible in the low west-northwest until about 10:30 PM.
RACHEL
Stargazers will see that the moon has planetary company on the 17th.
PAUL
Its companion is Venus, or the Evening Star.
RACHEL
Venus will be so bright that you might see it first.
PAUL
The moon will appear fainter than Venus appears and be located to its left.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will give you the best view of the crescent moon.
PAUL
Unfortunately, you need a telescope to see the phase of Venus.
RACHEL
If you have one, then look at Venus before the sky gets very dark.
PAUL
That way, the glare of Venus won’t wash out your view of the planet’s phase.
RACHEL
Currently, Venus is located on the other side of the solar system.
PAUL
Meaning it has a gibbous phase, or that it appears almost full.
RACHEL
So Venus is nearly the opposite phase of the moon.
PAUL
However, Venus is approaching our side of the solar system.
RACHEL
And by September, the planet will appear as a crescent.
PAUL
And it’ll be a crescent large enough to be seen through binoculars.
RACHEL
So for now, enjoy the moon and Evening Star together.
PAUL
And watch the moon’s crescent increase in extent each night.
RACHEL
And for the appearance of earthshine over the next few days.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th and 17th of May.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @IdahoSkies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 14th and 15th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
America’s first space station, Skylab, was launched 45 years ago on May 14th.
PAUL
Skylab was the converted third stage of the mighty Saturn V rocket that sent astronauts to the moon.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, Skylab suffered damaged reaching Earth orbit.
PAUL
But astronauts were able to repair well enough over two missions.
RACHEL
One of the tasks for Skylab astronauts was to observe the sun.
PAUL
You see, or don’t see, Earth’s atmosphere blocks a lot of solar radiation.
RACHEL
That means there’s a lot of solar information hidden from us by our atmosphere.
PAUL
Which is why a space-based observatory was been a goal of astronomers ever since the Space Age began.
RACHEL
The telescopes on Skylab were built into an unused lunar module descent stage.
PAUL
With their own solar array, the entire assembly was called the Apollo Telescope Mount.
RACHEL
The ATM, or Apollo Telescope Mount was attached to the top of Skylab by unfolding a scaffolding structure.
PAUL
The space station was pointed at the sun so the observatory’s telescopes could watch the sun from infrared light to all the way to extreme ultraviolet.
RACHEL
Behind the telescopes were film-based cameras rather than digital ones.
PAUL
So each telescope’s film cartridge had to be retrieved by an astronaut.
RACHEL
This meant making a spacewalk from the airlock to the top of Skylab.
PAUL
Astronomers (oops, was suppose to be Astronauts) performed this spacewalk or EVA at the end of their mission and prior to their return to Earth.
RACHEL
In all, three crews of three astronauts each spent a total of six months on Skylab.
PAUL
And some of our listeners might remember that the abandoned Skylab made a fiery returned to Earth back in July 1979.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
America’s first space station, Skylab, was launched 45 years ago on May 14th.
PAUL
Skylab was the converted third stage of the mighty Saturn V rocket that sent astronauts to the moon.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, Skylab suffered damaged reaching Earth orbit.
PAUL
But astronauts were able to repair well enough over two missions.
RACHEL
One of the tasks for Skylab astronauts was to observe the sun.
PAUL
You see, or don’t see, Earth’s atmosphere blocks a lot of solar radiation.
RACHEL
That means there’s a lot of solar information hidden from us by our atmosphere.
PAUL
Which is why a space-based observatory was been a goal of astronomers ever since the Space Age began.
RACHEL
The telescopes on Skylab were built into an unused lunar module descent stage.
PAUL
With their own solar array, the entire assembly was called the Apollo Telescope Mount.
RACHEL
The ATM, or Apollo Telescope Mount was attached to the top of Skylab by unfolding a scaffolding structure.
PAUL
The space station was pointed at the sun so the observatory’s telescopes could watch the sun from infrared light to all the way to extreme ultraviolet.
RACHEL
Behind the telescopes were film-based cameras rather than digital ones.
PAUL
So each telescope’s film cartridge had to be retrieved by an astronaut.
RACHEL
This meant making a spacewalk from the airlock to the top of Skylab.
PAUL
Astronomers (oops, was suppose to be Astronauts) performed this spacewalk or EVA at the end of their mission and prior to their return to Earth.
RACHEL
In all, three crews of three astronauts each spent a total of six months on Skylab.
PAUL
And some of our listeners might remember that the abandoned Skylab made a fiery returned to Earth back in July 1979.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Monday, May 7, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 11th, 12th, and 13th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 11th, 12th, and 13th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Astronomer Anthony Hewish turns 94 on the 11th.
RACHEL
Hewish, where have I heard that name before?
PAUL
In 1974, he won the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of neutron stars.
RACHEL
Actually, his PhD student Joceyln Bell discovered neutron stars.
PAUL
Hewish was Bell’s PhD advisor and she was monitoring the mysterious quasars.
RACHEL
Her research involved recording the rapid changes in their radio signals.
PAUL
And in November 1967, Bell discovered something different, a regularly repeating radio pulse.
RACHEL
The signal turned on an off precisely every 1.3 seconds
PAUL
The signal’s pulses were too perfect, so she suspected its source was terrestrial or a satellite in Earth orbit.
RACHEL
It turned out that it wasn’t, the signal actually originated among the stars.
PAUL
Half jokingly, Bell and Hewish referred to the radio pulsar as a LGM, or little green men.
RACHEL
On account of how perfectly regular and precise the signal was.
PAUL
After their discovery of a second source, Hewish and Bell were convinced that the source had to be natural and astronomical.
RACHEL
Research had showed that collapsed stars could generate such perfect radio signals as they spun.
PAUL
But first, the atoms in those stars had to be crushed into neutrons.
RACHEL
So the pulsars that Bell discovered are actually neutron stars that are beaming radio waves our way as they rotate.
PAUL
And today astronomers have discovered over 2,000 pulsars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 11th, 12th, and 13th of May.
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.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 11th, 12th, and 13th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Astronomer Anthony Hewish turns 94 on the 11th.
RACHEL
Hewish, where have I heard that name before?
PAUL
In 1974, he won the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of neutron stars.
RACHEL
Actually, his PhD student Joceyln Bell discovered neutron stars.
PAUL
Hewish was Bell’s PhD advisor and she was monitoring the mysterious quasars.
RACHEL
Her research involved recording the rapid changes in their radio signals.
PAUL
And in November 1967, Bell discovered something different, a regularly repeating radio pulse.
RACHEL
The signal turned on an off precisely every 1.3 seconds
PAUL
The signal’s pulses were too perfect, so she suspected its source was terrestrial or a satellite in Earth orbit.
RACHEL
It turned out that it wasn’t, the signal actually originated among the stars.
PAUL
Half jokingly, Bell and Hewish referred to the radio pulsar as a LGM, or little green men.
RACHEL
On account of how perfectly regular and precise the signal was.
PAUL
After their discovery of a second source, Hewish and Bell were convinced that the source had to be natural and astronomical.
RACHEL
Research had showed that collapsed stars could generate such perfect radio signals as they spun.
PAUL
But first, the atoms in those stars had to be crushed into neutrons.
RACHEL
So the pulsars that Bell discovered are actually neutron stars that are beaming radio waves our way as they rotate.
PAUL
And today astronomers have discovered over 2,000 pulsars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 11th, 12th, and 13th of May.
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.
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 9th and 10th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 9th and 10th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Jupiter reaches opposition on the 9th.
PAUL
This means May is one of the best times to observe Jupiter in either a telescope or even binoculars.
RACHEL
Opposition occurs when Earth catches up to an outer or superior planet.
PAUL
As a result, we’re as close to the planet as we can get.
RACHEL
So it’s no wonder superior planets appear brighter at opposition.
PAUL
And through a telescope or binoculars, they appear at their largest.
RACHEL
Mars is famous for how much larger and brighter it appears at opposition.
PAUL
But Jupiter still does a fine job becoming a better astronomical target.
RACHEL
Through binoculars on the night of the 9th, you’ll see one of Jupiter’s largest satellites, Callisto.
PAUL
Callisto will appear as a faint star to Jupiter’s lower left.
RACHEL
A telescope, which has more magnification than binoculars, will show you three more satellites.
PAUL
Those will appear to the lower left of Jupiter while Callisto appears at the upper right.
RACHEL
Wait, first you said Callisto appears at the lower left and now you’re saying it appears at the upper right?
PAUL
Yep, that’s because a telescope inverts images while binoculars don’t.
RACHEL
Oh, I see. Unfortunately, the three other moons are close to Jupiter.
PAUL
Meaning the planet’s glare will make it difficult, or even impossible, to see them though your binoculars.
RACHEL
But as long as you use a telescope, you’ll see all four satellites.
PAUL
Just in backwards order from what your binoculars would show.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 9th and 10th of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 9th and 10th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Jupiter reaches opposition on the 9th.
PAUL
This means May is one of the best times to observe Jupiter in either a telescope or even binoculars.
RACHEL
Opposition occurs when Earth catches up to an outer or superior planet.
PAUL
As a result, we’re as close to the planet as we can get.
RACHEL
So it’s no wonder superior planets appear brighter at opposition.
PAUL
And through a telescope or binoculars, they appear at their largest.
RACHEL
Mars is famous for how much larger and brighter it appears at opposition.
PAUL
But Jupiter still does a fine job becoming a better astronomical target.
RACHEL
Through binoculars on the night of the 9th, you’ll see one of Jupiter’s largest satellites, Callisto.
PAUL
Callisto will appear as a faint star to Jupiter’s lower left.
RACHEL
A telescope, which has more magnification than binoculars, will show you three more satellites.
PAUL
Those will appear to the lower left of Jupiter while Callisto appears at the upper right.
RACHEL
Wait, first you said Callisto appears at the lower left and now you’re saying it appears at the upper right?
PAUL
Yep, that’s because a telescope inverts images while binoculars don’t.
RACHEL
Oh, I see. Unfortunately, the three other moons are close to Jupiter.
PAUL
Meaning the planet’s glare will make it difficult, or even impossible, to see them though your binoculars.
RACHEL
But as long as you use a telescope, you’ll see all four satellites.
PAUL
Just in backwards order from what your binoculars would show.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 9th and 10th of May.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Idaho Skies Transcript for May 7th and 8th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 7th and 8th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Let’s talk about Theodore von Karman and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo today.
RACHEL
That sounds like an odd combination, since the first is an aerospace engineer and the second is a passenger-carrying spaceship.
PAUL
Sure, but von Karman died 55 years ago on the 7th and SpaceShipTwo successfully fired its rocket engine just last month.
RACHEL
Von Karman was Hungarian and he immigrated to the US in 1930 to escape the rise of fascism.
PAUL
While working at Cal Tech, he founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1946.
RACHEL
His work lead to the understanding of supersonic and hypersonic airflow.
PAUL
How air flows over wings at supersonic speeds is critical to the design of SpaceShipTwo.
RACHEL
Von Karman understood that as airplanes flew at higher altitudes, they needed to fly faster to remain aloft.
PAUL
That’s because the air density becomes less the higher an airplane flies and it’s the mass of air flowing over a wing that generates lift.
RACHEL
He determined that at an altitude 100 kilometers, an airplane would have to fly at a speed of 5 miles per second to stay aloft.
PAUL
Which is also orbital velocity.
RACHEL
That means technically, an airplane can’t aerodynamically fly at an altitude of 100 kilometers.
PAUL
That’s right; an airplane must astrodynamically orbit the Earth instead.
RACHEL
That’s why an altitude of 100 kilometers, 62 miles, or 328,000 feet is consisted the boundary for outer space.
PAUL
And in his honor, we call this altitude the von Karman line.
RACHEL
Which is the altitude that SpaceShipTwo is designed to carry its passengers.
PAUL
Meaning, you’ll become an astronaut once you’ve flown on SpaceShipTwo.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th and 8th of May.
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.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for May 7th and 8th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Let’s talk about Theodore von Karman and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo today.
RACHEL
That sounds like an odd combination, since the first is an aerospace engineer and the second is a passenger-carrying spaceship.
PAUL
Sure, but von Karman died 55 years ago on the 7th and SpaceShipTwo successfully fired its rocket engine just last month.
RACHEL
Von Karman was Hungarian and he immigrated to the US in 1930 to escape the rise of fascism.
PAUL
While working at Cal Tech, he founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1946.
RACHEL
His work lead to the understanding of supersonic and hypersonic airflow.
PAUL
How air flows over wings at supersonic speeds is critical to the design of SpaceShipTwo.
RACHEL
Von Karman understood that as airplanes flew at higher altitudes, they needed to fly faster to remain aloft.
PAUL
That’s because the air density becomes less the higher an airplane flies and it’s the mass of air flowing over a wing that generates lift.
RACHEL
He determined that at an altitude 100 kilometers, an airplane would have to fly at a speed of 5 miles per second to stay aloft.
PAUL
Which is also orbital velocity.
RACHEL
That means technically, an airplane can’t aerodynamically fly at an altitude of 100 kilometers.
PAUL
That’s right; an airplane must astrodynamically orbit the Earth instead.
RACHEL
That’s why an altitude of 100 kilometers, 62 miles, or 328,000 feet is consisted the boundary for outer space.
PAUL
And in his honor, we call this altitude the von Karman line.
RACHEL
Which is the altitude that SpaceShipTwo is designed to carry its passengers.
PAUL
Meaning, you’ll become an astronaut once you’ve flown on SpaceShipTwo.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th and 8th of May.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)