RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 7th, 8th, and 9th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is new on the morning of the 9th.
PAUL
That means it appears as a waning crescent on the mornings of the 7th and 8th.
RACHEL
The moon is approaching the horizon along a steep path.
PAUL
Which gives stargazers their best opportunity to see a very old moon.
RACHEL
So look in the low east at about 5:00 AM if you’re interested in this challenge.
PAUL
And remember, a pair of binoculars will help you locate the very thin crescent moon.
RACHEL
However, the moon will be so thin that binoculars won’t show much in the way of lunar details.
PAUL
Did you know that the moon’s phase is the opposite of Earth’s phase as seen from the moon?
RACHEL
Meaning that if you were standing in the dark half of the moon facing us, you’d see a nearly full Earth overhead.
PAUL
That Earth would appear as a blue and white marble four times wider and taller than the moon appears to us.
RACHEL
And about 40 times brighter.
PAUL
But unlike the stationary moon, Earth would visibly spin on its axis.
RACHEL
So in as little as an hour, observant Earth-gazers would notice a change in the planet’s appearance.
PAUL
And because of the clouds, Earth wouldn’t look the same every day.
RACHEL
According to the Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon, the continents were not readily visible to them.
PAUL
Because both continents and oceans are very dark.
RACHEL
So they mostly saw Earth’s blue atmosphere and swirling bands of white clouds.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 7th, 8th, and 9th of September.
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.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for September 5th and 6th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 5th and 6th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Morning stargazers will find the Beehive star cluster near the moon on the 6th.
RACHEL
The Beehive is the best astronomical object in Cancer the Crab.
PAUL
And it’s one of Earth’s closest open star clusters.
RACHEL
The crab is a dim constellation and its two center stars are its most noticeable part.
PAUL
Primarily because of their proximity to each other.
RACHEL
But just barely noticeable, you’ll need to leave the city for dark country skies to see these stars.
PAUL
The northern star of this stellar pair is named Asellus Borealis.
RACHEL
And the southern is named Asellus Australis.
PAUL
Asellus by the way means donkey colt in Latin.
RACHEL
And the two stars represented two donkeys feeding at a manager between them.
PAUL
The manager in this case, was a small nebulous patch that the ancients saw between the two stars.
RACHEL
Galileo was the first to turn an astronomical telescope to this hazy spot in 1609.
PAUL
And he was surprised to discover that it consisted on some 40 stars.
RACHEL
To find the Beehive star cluster yourself, aim your binoculars at the moon on the morning of the 6th.
PAUL
Which will be a very thin crescent in the low east at 5:00 AM.
RACHEL
Then shift your binoculars towards the lower left of the moon until it just disappears from the binocular view.
PAUL
The Beehive will pop into view in the 7 o’clock position.
RACHEL
Be sure to count the number of stars you can see.
PAUL
Can you see 40 stars like Galileo?
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th and 6th of September.
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 September 5th and 6th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Morning stargazers will find the Beehive star cluster near the moon on the 6th.
RACHEL
The Beehive is the best astronomical object in Cancer the Crab.
PAUL
And it’s one of Earth’s closest open star clusters.
RACHEL
The crab is a dim constellation and its two center stars are its most noticeable part.
PAUL
Primarily because of their proximity to each other.
RACHEL
But just barely noticeable, you’ll need to leave the city for dark country skies to see these stars.
PAUL
The northern star of this stellar pair is named Asellus Borealis.
RACHEL
And the southern is named Asellus Australis.
PAUL
Asellus by the way means donkey colt in Latin.
RACHEL
And the two stars represented two donkeys feeding at a manager between them.
PAUL
The manager in this case, was a small nebulous patch that the ancients saw between the two stars.
RACHEL
Galileo was the first to turn an astronomical telescope to this hazy spot in 1609.
PAUL
And he was surprised to discover that it consisted on some 40 stars.
RACHEL
To find the Beehive star cluster yourself, aim your binoculars at the moon on the morning of the 6th.
PAUL
Which will be a very thin crescent in the low east at 5:00 AM.
RACHEL
Then shift your binoculars towards the lower left of the moon until it just disappears from the binocular view.
PAUL
The Beehive will pop into view in the 7 o’clock position.
RACHEL
Be sure to count the number of stars you can see.
PAUL
Can you see 40 stars like Galileo?
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 5th and 6th of September.
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 September 3rd and 4th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for September 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The star cluster M-35 is only 5 degrees from the moon on the morning of the 4th.
PAUL
That means it’s within binocular view of the moon.
RACHEL
M-35 is not a very bright cluster, so the moon’s close proximity will make it much easier to locate than normal.
PAUL
And it’s visible in binoculars as long as you get out from under the lights.
RACHEL
Around 5:00 AM will be a good time to go looking for this star cluster.
PAUL
So find the thin waning crescent moon in the east in Gemini the Twins.
RACHEL
Then point your binoculars at the moon and place it on the right edge of your view.
PAUL
The M-35 star cluster will appear between the center and left edge of your view.
RACHEL
This is a galactic star cluster.
PAUL
Or one that’s irregularly-shaped and not strongly concentrated towards the center.
RACHEL
Galactic star clusters contain fewer stars than spherical globular star clusters.
PAUL
And galactic star clusters are younger to boot.
RACHEL
Our sun was most likely born in a galactic star cluster like M-35 along with possibly hundreds of siblings.
PAUL
Over millions of years, the stars left their nest to start their own journeys through the galaxy.
RACHEL
Today, some 4.5 billion years after their birth, these stars are scattered across the galaxy.
PAUL
Meaning we can’t currently see any of the sun’s siblings.
RACHEL
Besides, the more massive stars of the sun’s birth cluster have died by now.
PAUL
Leaving only stars with masses like the sun and smaller.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of September.
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 September 3rd and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The star cluster M-35 is only 5 degrees from the moon on the morning of the 4th.
PAUL
That means it’s within binocular view of the moon.
RACHEL
M-35 is not a very bright cluster, so the moon’s close proximity will make it much easier to locate than normal.
PAUL
And it’s visible in binoculars as long as you get out from under the lights.
RACHEL
Around 5:00 AM will be a good time to go looking for this star cluster.
PAUL
So find the thin waning crescent moon in the east in Gemini the Twins.
RACHEL
Then point your binoculars at the moon and place it on the right edge of your view.
PAUL
The M-35 star cluster will appear between the center and left edge of your view.
RACHEL
This is a galactic star cluster.
PAUL
Or one that’s irregularly-shaped and not strongly concentrated towards the center.
RACHEL
Galactic star clusters contain fewer stars than spherical globular star clusters.
PAUL
And galactic star clusters are younger to boot.
RACHEL
Our sun was most likely born in a galactic star cluster like M-35 along with possibly hundreds of siblings.
PAUL
Over millions of years, the stars left their nest to start their own journeys through the galaxy.
RACHEL
Today, some 4.5 billion years after their birth, these stars are scattered across the galaxy.
PAUL
Meaning we can’t currently see any of the sun’s siblings.
RACHEL
Besides, the more massive stars of the sun’s birth cluster have died by now.
PAUL
Leaving only stars with masses like the sun and smaller.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 3rd and 4th of September.
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.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Cellphone Telescope Bracket Test on Planets
Last night I aimed the 16" telescope on Jupiter and Saturn. These are the pictures I took with my cellphone at 72 power.
My future plans include collecting multiple images of the planets over a month or more and using those images to chart the orbits of the moons. Also, I'd like to shoot raw images and then try photo-processing them.
 |
| This is Jupiter. From left to right, the moons are Callisto, Europa, Io, (Jupiter), and Ganymede |
 |
| Saturn over-exposed to show two moons. Titan is at the lower left and Rhea is just below. |
 |
| A wavy Saturn. The air was turbulent and the mirror hadn't reached ambient temperature yet. But hey, at least we can see rings. |
My future plans include collecting multiple images of the planets over a month or more and using those images to chart the orbits of the moons. Also, I'd like to shoot raw images and then try photo-processing them.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for August 31st and September 1st and 2nd
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for August 31st and September 1st and 2nd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
On the 31st, observant stargazers will notice there’s a star above Venus.
PAUL
The Evening Star will still be bright, but very close to the west-southwest horizon.
RACHEL
And above it will be a white spark otherwise known as Spica.
PAUL
Spica is the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden.
RACHEL
Spica, like the rest of the stars, is drifting closer to the western horizon every day.
PAUL
That motion is the result of Earth revolving around the sun.
RACHEL
Looking down from the North Pole, Earth goes counter-clockwise around the sun.
PAUL
Which makes the stars slowly drift farther westward each night.
RACHEL
Recall that there are 360 degrees in a full circle.
PAUL
And that it takes the earth 365.24 days to orbit the sun.
RACHEL
That means that the stars appear to drift about one degree farther westward every day.
PAUL
And since there are 24 hours in a day, the stars rise and set about four minutes earlier each night.
RACHEL
So Spica will disappear in another two weeks.
PAUL
And then reappear in the eastern morning sky at the end of October.
RACHEL
Speaking of morning skies, the moon makes a close passage to the Hyades star cluster on September 2nd.
PAUL
The moon will be at the last quarter phase; therefore, this will make a great target for your binoculars.
RACHEL
You’ll need to go outside at around a little after midnight to observe this duo.
PAUL
Be sure to look along the straight edge boundary between day and night where craters are most visible.
RACHEL
And then see count how many stars you can see in the Hyades.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 31st of August and the 1st and 2nd of September.
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 August 31st and September 1st and 2nd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
On the 31st, observant stargazers will notice there’s a star above Venus.
PAUL
The Evening Star will still be bright, but very close to the west-southwest horizon.
RACHEL
And above it will be a white spark otherwise known as Spica.
PAUL
Spica is the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden.
RACHEL
Spica, like the rest of the stars, is drifting closer to the western horizon every day.
PAUL
That motion is the result of Earth revolving around the sun.
RACHEL
Looking down from the North Pole, Earth goes counter-clockwise around the sun.
PAUL
Which makes the stars slowly drift farther westward each night.
RACHEL
Recall that there are 360 degrees in a full circle.
PAUL
And that it takes the earth 365.24 days to orbit the sun.
RACHEL
That means that the stars appear to drift about one degree farther westward every day.
PAUL
And since there are 24 hours in a day, the stars rise and set about four minutes earlier each night.
RACHEL
So Spica will disappear in another two weeks.
PAUL
And then reappear in the eastern morning sky at the end of October.
RACHEL
Speaking of morning skies, the moon makes a close passage to the Hyades star cluster on September 2nd.
PAUL
The moon will be at the last quarter phase; therefore, this will make a great target for your binoculars.
RACHEL
You’ll need to go outside at around a little after midnight to observe this duo.
PAUL
Be sure to look along the straight edge boundary between day and night where craters are most visible.
RACHEL
And then see count how many stars you can see in the Hyades.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 31st of August and the 1st and 2nd of September.
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 August 29th and 30th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for August 29th and 30th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Stargazers should be on the look out for two planets on the 29th and 30th.
RACHEL
First is Saturn. It’s the brightest star in the low south after it gets dark.
PAUL
You’ll know its Saturn because its cream color and it doesn’t twinkle like the other stars.
RACHEL
If you’re observing from dark skies, you’ll notice there’s a teapot shaped constellation to the lower left of Saturn.
PAUL
Best of all, there are several star clusters and nebulae to Saturn’s lower right.
RACHEL
So point your binoculars at Saturn and then scan the lower right side of your view for fuzzy nebulae.
PAUL
The second planet to look for is more difficult, it’s Uranus, or the next planet beyond Saturn.
RACHEL
It’s visible in binoculars, that is, if you know where to look.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon is an excellent guide on the 30th.
RACHEL
So get out from under the lights and aim your binoculars at the waning gibbous moon after it gets dark.
PAUL
Uranus is just less than six degrees away from the moon, so you can see both the moon and Uranus together in most binoculars.
RACHEL
Begin by placing the moon at the bottom right of your binoculars, preferably in the 5 o’clock position.
PAUL
Uranus will be the brightest star just over ¾ of the way across your binocular view.
RACHEL
And it will be located at the 11 o’clock position, if you keep the moon at the 5 o’clock position.
PAUL
Uranus is an ice giant planet that’s four times wider than Earth.
RACHEL
It’s 19 times farther away from the sun than Earth, so pretty cold there.
PAUL
Astronomers have discovered 27 satellites of Uranus and have given them names from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope.
RACHEL
So the planet has moons with names like Miranda and Oberon.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 29th and 30th of August.
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 August 29th and 30th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Stargazers should be on the look out for two planets on the 29th and 30th.
RACHEL
First is Saturn. It’s the brightest star in the low south after it gets dark.
PAUL
You’ll know its Saturn because its cream color and it doesn’t twinkle like the other stars.
RACHEL
If you’re observing from dark skies, you’ll notice there’s a teapot shaped constellation to the lower left of Saturn.
PAUL
Best of all, there are several star clusters and nebulae to Saturn’s lower right.
RACHEL
So point your binoculars at Saturn and then scan the lower right side of your view for fuzzy nebulae.
PAUL
The second planet to look for is more difficult, it’s Uranus, or the next planet beyond Saturn.
RACHEL
It’s visible in binoculars, that is, if you know where to look.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon is an excellent guide on the 30th.
RACHEL
So get out from under the lights and aim your binoculars at the waning gibbous moon after it gets dark.
PAUL
Uranus is just less than six degrees away from the moon, so you can see both the moon and Uranus together in most binoculars.
RACHEL
Begin by placing the moon at the bottom right of your binoculars, preferably in the 5 o’clock position.
PAUL
Uranus will be the brightest star just over ¾ of the way across your binocular view.
RACHEL
And it will be located at the 11 o’clock position, if you keep the moon at the 5 o’clock position.
PAUL
Uranus is an ice giant planet that’s four times wider than Earth.
RACHEL
It’s 19 times farther away from the sun than Earth, so pretty cold there.
PAUL
Astronomers have discovered 27 satellites of Uranus and have given them names from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope.
RACHEL
So the planet has moons with names like Miranda and Oberon.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 29th and 30th of August.
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 August 27th and 28th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for August 27th and 28th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The innermost planet makes a brief appearance this week.
PAUL
In fact, on the morning of the 27th, little Mercury appears at its highest above the horizon.
RACHEL
Mercury orbits the sun at a distance of 36 million miles, with a variation of seven million miles.
PAUL
Whoa, Mercury has a very eccentric orbit.
RACHEL
That’s right; in fact, its orbit is the most eccentric of all the planets.
PAUL
For a comparison, Earth’s orbit varies by less than two million miles from its average.
RACHEL
But remember, Earth’s orbit is three times larger than Mercury’s to begin with.
PAUL
Therefore, the 1.5 million mile variation in Earth’s orbit is like a half million mile variation to Mercury.
RACHEL
The farthest Mercury can appear away from the sun is 28 degrees.
PAUL
And since Idaho is far from the equator, Mercury travels in a tilted line that can never appear that high above the horizon.
RACHEL
So to see Mercury this week, look in the low east-northeast at around 6:15 AM.
PAUL
You’re looking for the brightest white star close to the horizon.
RACHEL
You can be certain it’s Mercury you’re looking at if the star doesn’t twinkle like the other stars.
PAUL
And that its position relative to the horizon changes significantly over several days.
RACHEL
Mercury’s small orbit means the Sun’s gravitational attraction to Mercury is much stronger than it is to Earth.
PAUL
Since the orbit is three times smaller than Earth’s, the sun’s gravitational force is nine times greater.
RACHEL
A stronger gravitational pull means Mercury must orbit faster or else plunge into the sun.
PAUL
Which is one reason why it only takes Mercury 88 days to orbit the sun once.
RACHEL
And that’s another reason why Mercury doesn’t appear above the horizon for more than about two weeks at a time.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 27th and 28th of August.
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 August 27th and 28th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The innermost planet makes a brief appearance this week.
PAUL
In fact, on the morning of the 27th, little Mercury appears at its highest above the horizon.
RACHEL
Mercury orbits the sun at a distance of 36 million miles, with a variation of seven million miles.
PAUL
Whoa, Mercury has a very eccentric orbit.
RACHEL
That’s right; in fact, its orbit is the most eccentric of all the planets.
PAUL
For a comparison, Earth’s orbit varies by less than two million miles from its average.
RACHEL
But remember, Earth’s orbit is three times larger than Mercury’s to begin with.
PAUL
Therefore, the 1.5 million mile variation in Earth’s orbit is like a half million mile variation to Mercury.
RACHEL
The farthest Mercury can appear away from the sun is 28 degrees.
PAUL
And since Idaho is far from the equator, Mercury travels in a tilted line that can never appear that high above the horizon.
RACHEL
So to see Mercury this week, look in the low east-northeast at around 6:15 AM.
PAUL
You’re looking for the brightest white star close to the horizon.
RACHEL
You can be certain it’s Mercury you’re looking at if the star doesn’t twinkle like the other stars.
PAUL
And that its position relative to the horizon changes significantly over several days.
RACHEL
Mercury’s small orbit means the Sun’s gravitational attraction to Mercury is much stronger than it is to Earth.
PAUL
Since the orbit is three times smaller than Earth’s, the sun’s gravitational force is nine times greater.
RACHEL
A stronger gravitational pull means Mercury must orbit faster or else plunge into the sun.
PAUL
Which is one reason why it only takes Mercury 88 days to orbit the sun once.
RACHEL
And that’s another reason why Mercury doesn’t appear above the horizon for more than about two weeks at a time.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 27th and 28th of August.
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.
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