RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is located to the left of Venus on the 2nd.
PAUL
It’s still a very thin crescent, but much easier to see than yesterday.
RACHEL
To see the crescent moon, stargazers need to look in the low southwest at around 6:30, or as soon as it gets dark.
PAUL
Binoculars won’t show much lunar detail yet, there just isn’t enough illuminated moon.
RACHEL
The moon continues its eastward trek and on the 4th, it’s just right of a pale orange star.
PAUL
The star is actually Mars, the solar system’s fourth planet.
RACHEL
Although Mars appears star-like, it’s actually twice the size of the moon.
PAUL
It’s just their distances form Earth that makes them appear this way.
RACHEL
For stargazers curious to know, Mars is 134 million miles away while the moon is only 236 thousand miles away.
PAUL
The surfaces of Both Mars and the moon are rich in basalt, or lava rock.
RACHEL
Why the difference in color if they primarily consist of the same rock type?
PAUL
Well, basalt is a dark gray or black rock, but only as long as it’s not oxidized.
RACHEL
And since the moon has no atmosphere, it remains dark gray to this day.
PAUL
But when the iron in basalt becomes oxidized, it turns rust orange.
RACHEL
Which is the case with Mars, since it has an atmosphere.
PAUL
Well, not much of an atmosphere, but probably a more substantial one billions of years ago.
RACHEL
And planet color may be a good way to tell if an exoplanet is potentially habitatable.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of December.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Transcript for November 30th and December 1st
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 30th and December 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Take a look at the southeast at 6:15 PM on December 1st.
RACHEL
Brilliant Venus will be easy to see, but can you see the moon?
PAUL
The moon appears as an extremely thin crescent and it’s located to the lower right of Venus.
RACHEL
And that means it’s much closer to the horizon.
PAUL
If you can’t see the moon by eye, then try using your binoculars.
RACHEL
However, don’t start scanning the horizon until after the sun has safely set.
PAUL
It might be difficult to see the moon in the valley considering the mountains on the horizon.
RACHEL
That means that searching for the moon from the Bogus Basin parking might be really helpful.
PAUL
The moon will be 55 hours old on the 1st.
RACHEL
Most people never notice the moon until it closer to 72 hours old.
PAUL
So if you can see it on the 1st, you’ll be part of a select group of humans.
RACHEL
The moon will be easier to see from high elevations.
PAUL
That’s where the air is clearer and the sky darker.
RACHEL
It’s even more helpful if the moon is near perigee, or its closest distance from Earth.
PAUL
Unfortunately, the moon is very close to its apogee, or its greatest distance from Earth on the 1st.
RACHEL
Oh well, there’s always next month.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 30th of November and 1st of December.
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 November 30th and December 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Take a look at the southeast at 6:15 PM on December 1st.
RACHEL
Brilliant Venus will be easy to see, but can you see the moon?
PAUL
The moon appears as an extremely thin crescent and it’s located to the lower right of Venus.
RACHEL
And that means it’s much closer to the horizon.
PAUL
If you can’t see the moon by eye, then try using your binoculars.
RACHEL
However, don’t start scanning the horizon until after the sun has safely set.
PAUL
It might be difficult to see the moon in the valley considering the mountains on the horizon.
RACHEL
That means that searching for the moon from the Bogus Basin parking might be really helpful.
PAUL
The moon will be 55 hours old on the 1st.
RACHEL
Most people never notice the moon until it closer to 72 hours old.
PAUL
So if you can see it on the 1st, you’ll be part of a select group of humans.
RACHEL
The moon will be easier to see from high elevations.
PAUL
That’s where the air is clearer and the sky darker.
RACHEL
It’s even more helpful if the moon is near perigee, or its closest distance from Earth.
PAUL
Unfortunately, the moon is very close to its apogee, or its greatest distance from Earth on the 1st.
RACHEL
Oh well, there’s always next month.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 30th of November and 1st of December.
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.
Transcript for November 28th and 29th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 28th and 29th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is new on the 29th.
PAUL
That means stargazers can’t expect to see it in the evening again for a couple of days.
RACHEL
Did you know that the moon takes 27 days to orbit Earth?
PAUL
I did. Did you know that it takes between 29 and 30 days for the lunar phase to go from new moon to new moon?
RACHEL
Wait, it takes the moon over two days longer to go through its phases than it takes to orbit Earth?
PAUL
That’s right.
RACHEL
Where are those additional two days coming from? Does the moon take a rest for two nights?
PAUL
Nope. By the time the moon completes one orbit, Earth and the moon has traveled 1/12th of the around the sun.
RACHEL
Oh I see. Because the sun no longer appears in the same location in the sky, the moon must travel two additional days to catch up with the sun.
PAUL
And therefore, two additional days to reach the same phase.
RACHEL
And during that time, we never see the far side of the moon.
PAUL
That’s right. Because the moon is so close to Earth, it’s tidally locked.
RACHEL
The same process that tidally locked the moon is happening to Earth.
PAUL
However, because of the low mass of the moon, the process may take 50 billion years to tidally lock Earth to the moon.
RACHEL
By then, the sun will be long gone.
PAUL
And depending on the breaks, Earth may even not even exist.
RACHEL
That’s because the sun must expand into a Red Giant star first.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th and 29th of November.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies 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 November 28th and 29th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is new on the 29th.
PAUL
That means stargazers can’t expect to see it in the evening again for a couple of days.
RACHEL
Did you know that the moon takes 27 days to orbit Earth?
PAUL
I did. Did you know that it takes between 29 and 30 days for the lunar phase to go from new moon to new moon?
RACHEL
Wait, it takes the moon over two days longer to go through its phases than it takes to orbit Earth?
PAUL
That’s right.
RACHEL
Where are those additional two days coming from? Does the moon take a rest for two nights?
PAUL
Nope. By the time the moon completes one orbit, Earth and the moon has traveled 1/12th of the around the sun.
RACHEL
Oh I see. Because the sun no longer appears in the same location in the sky, the moon must travel two additional days to catch up with the sun.
PAUL
And therefore, two additional days to reach the same phase.
RACHEL
And during that time, we never see the far side of the moon.
PAUL
That’s right. Because the moon is so close to Earth, it’s tidally locked.
RACHEL
The same process that tidally locked the moon is happening to Earth.
PAUL
However, because of the low mass of the moon, the process may take 50 billion years to tidally lock Earth to the moon.
RACHEL
By then, the sun will be long gone.
PAUL
And depending on the breaks, Earth may even not even exist.
RACHEL
That’s because the sun must expand into a Red Giant star first.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th and 29th of November.
RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Transcript for November 18th to 20th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 18th, 19th, and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The Beehive star cluster is just over a binocular view away from the moon on the 18th.
PAUL
The Beehive is located almost exactly dead center of the constellation of Cancer the crab.
RACHEL
Cancer has very few stars and what it has are pretty faint.
PAUL
That means in dark skies, you’re more likely to see the Beehive rather than the constellation.
RACHEL
Prior to 1609, humans only knew the Beehive as a fuzzy spot in the sky.
PAUL
Galileo was the first to point a telescope at the Beehive and realize it was actually a cluster of stars.
RACHEL
To see the Beehive on the 18th, point your binoculars at the moon at around 11:30 PM.
PAUL
Then shift your binoculars slightly left and down.
RACHEL
Shortly after the moon leaves your binocular view, the Beehive star cluster will enter.
PAUL
Through binoculars, the Beehive appears as a nice clustering of stars.
RACHEL
Its diameter is three times larger than the moon’s apparent diameter.
PAUL
And the cluster contains around 1,000 member stars.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, you binoculars will only show a small percentage of them.
PAUL
None of the stars appear particularly bright, but they are packed together.
RACHEL
That uniform grouping of stars gives the star cluster the same appearance as a swarm of bees.
PAUL
Hence its more popular name, the Beehive star cluster.
RACHEL
Before Galileo, it was called the Praesepe, or the manager.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th, 19th, and 20th of November.
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 November 18th, 19th, and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The Beehive star cluster is just over a binocular view away from the moon on the 18th.
PAUL
The Beehive is located almost exactly dead center of the constellation of Cancer the crab.
RACHEL
Cancer has very few stars and what it has are pretty faint.
PAUL
That means in dark skies, you’re more likely to see the Beehive rather than the constellation.
RACHEL
Prior to 1609, humans only knew the Beehive as a fuzzy spot in the sky.
PAUL
Galileo was the first to point a telescope at the Beehive and realize it was actually a cluster of stars.
RACHEL
To see the Beehive on the 18th, point your binoculars at the moon at around 11:30 PM.
PAUL
Then shift your binoculars slightly left and down.
RACHEL
Shortly after the moon leaves your binocular view, the Beehive star cluster will enter.
PAUL
Through binoculars, the Beehive appears as a nice clustering of stars.
RACHEL
Its diameter is three times larger than the moon’s apparent diameter.
PAUL
And the cluster contains around 1,000 member stars.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, you binoculars will only show a small percentage of them.
PAUL
None of the stars appear particularly bright, but they are packed together.
RACHEL
That uniform grouping of stars gives the star cluster the same appearance as a swarm of bees.
PAUL
Hence its more popular name, the Beehive star cluster.
RACHEL
Before Galileo, it was called the Praesepe, or the manager.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th, 19th, and 20th of November.
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.
Transcript for November 16th to 17th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 16th and 17th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
An easy way to learn how to identify Gemini the Twins is to wait until the moon appears near it…
RACHEL
…which happens on the 16th this month.
PAUL
Stargazers will find the moon located between the feet of Gemini.
RACHEL
The rest of Gemini appears as a row of two stars…
PAUL
…and the rows appear to the left of the moon.
RACHEL
A good time for stargazers to look for Gemini is around 10:00 PM.
PAUL
Hey, what’s that bright star below the moon on the 17th?
RACHEL
Why it’s Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.
PAUL
Canis Minor is one of Orion’s faithful hunting dogs.
RACHEL
Wow, Procyon is a very bright star.
PAUL
Yes, but it appears that way only because it’s one of the closest stars to the solar system and not because its one of the brightest stars in the galaxy.
RACHEL
Did you know that a nearly invisible companion star orbits Procyon?
PAUL
Yes I did. It’s nearly invisible because it’s a white dwarf.
RACHEL
White dwarf stars have intensely bright surfaces, but they’re only the size of Earth.
PAUL
So even though their surfaces are blindingly bright, they’re too small to generate a lot of light.
RACHEL
When the sun runs out of hydrogen fuel in five billion years, it too will become a white dwarf star.
PAUL
And its gravity will crush it down by a factor of 100.
RACHEL
Then a sugar cube sized piece of the sun will weigh as much as a car on Earth.
PAUL
That just goes to show that atoms are mostly empty space.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th and 17th of November.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies 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 November 16th and 17th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
An easy way to learn how to identify Gemini the Twins is to wait until the moon appears near it…
RACHEL
…which happens on the 16th this month.
PAUL
Stargazers will find the moon located between the feet of Gemini.
RACHEL
The rest of Gemini appears as a row of two stars…
PAUL
…and the rows appear to the left of the moon.
RACHEL
A good time for stargazers to look for Gemini is around 10:00 PM.
PAUL
Hey, what’s that bright star below the moon on the 17th?
RACHEL
Why it’s Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.
PAUL
Canis Minor is one of Orion’s faithful hunting dogs.
RACHEL
Wow, Procyon is a very bright star.
PAUL
Yes, but it appears that way only because it’s one of the closest stars to the solar system and not because its one of the brightest stars in the galaxy.
RACHEL
Did you know that a nearly invisible companion star orbits Procyon?
PAUL
Yes I did. It’s nearly invisible because it’s a white dwarf.
RACHEL
White dwarf stars have intensely bright surfaces, but they’re only the size of Earth.
PAUL
So even though their surfaces are blindingly bright, they’re too small to generate a lot of light.
RACHEL
When the sun runs out of hydrogen fuel in five billion years, it too will become a white dwarf star.
PAUL
And its gravity will crush it down by a factor of 100.
RACHEL
Then a sugar cube sized piece of the sun will weigh as much as a car on Earth.
PAUL
That just goes to show that atoms are mostly empty space.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th and 17th of November.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Transcript for November 14 to 15
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Stargazers will find the moon swimming through the Hyades star cluster on the 15th.
PAUL
This is a morning event, so look for it before you leave for work.
RACHEL
Aldebaran, a bright orange star in Hyades is just 3.5 degrees away from the moon.
PAUL
So your binoculars will show you the moon and Aldebaran at the same time.
RACHEL
The Hyades represent the face of Taurus the Bull…
PAUL
…and Aldebaran represents his eye.
RACHEL
Although it appears in the Hyades, Aldebaran is not a member of this star cluster.
PAUL
In fact, Aldebaran is only half as far away from the solar system as the star cluster.
RACHEL
When watched for many years, astronomers see that the apparent position of Aldebaran within the Hyades changes.
PAUL
That’s because Aldebaran and the Hyades have different proper motions.
RACHEL
Proper motion?
PAUL
Yes. It’s the apparent motion of a star across the sky.
RACHEL
And it’s the product of the motion of the star and the sun around the center of the galaxy.
PAUL
Proper motion is one tool that astronomers can use to determine which stars appearing within a star cluster actually belong to the star cluster.
RACHEL
As its getting dark on the 15th, look in the low west for Mercury.
PAUL
Mercury, Venus, and Mars will form a straight line spanning 45 degrees.
RACHEL
Remember that 45 degrees is one quarter of the way across the sky.
PAUL
The line begins in the southwest and tilts to the upper left.
RACHEL
And brilliant Venus is nearly dead center of the line.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of November.
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 November 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
Stargazers will find the moon swimming through the Hyades star cluster on the 15th.
PAUL
This is a morning event, so look for it before you leave for work.
RACHEL
Aldebaran, a bright orange star in Hyades is just 3.5 degrees away from the moon.
PAUL
So your binoculars will show you the moon and Aldebaran at the same time.
RACHEL
The Hyades represent the face of Taurus the Bull…
PAUL
…and Aldebaran represents his eye.
RACHEL
Although it appears in the Hyades, Aldebaran is not a member of this star cluster.
PAUL
In fact, Aldebaran is only half as far away from the solar system as the star cluster.
RACHEL
When watched for many years, astronomers see that the apparent position of Aldebaran within the Hyades changes.
PAUL
That’s because Aldebaran and the Hyades have different proper motions.
RACHEL
Proper motion?
PAUL
Yes. It’s the apparent motion of a star across the sky.
RACHEL
And it’s the product of the motion of the star and the sun around the center of the galaxy.
PAUL
Proper motion is one tool that astronomers can use to determine which stars appearing within a star cluster actually belong to the star cluster.
RACHEL
As its getting dark on the 15th, look in the low west for Mercury.
PAUL
Mercury, Venus, and Mars will form a straight line spanning 45 degrees.
RACHEL
Remember that 45 degrees is one quarter of the way across the sky.
PAUL
The line begins in the southwest and tilts to the upper left.
RACHEL
And brilliant Venus is nearly dead center of the line.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of November.
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.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Transcript for November 11th to 13th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 11th, 12th, and 13th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
On the 13th, stargazers will find the moon passing close to the Pleiades star cluster.
RACHEL
The Pleiades are also called the Seven Sisters.
PAUL
The cluster appears as a small and bright star cluster on the moon’s left.
RACHEL
If you aim your binoculars at this star cluster, you’ll see around 24 member stars.
PAUL
Of course, a telescope with mirror or lens larger than two inches will show more member stars.
RACHEL
In binoculars and to the eye, the star cluster forms a tiny dipper shape.
PAUL
This confuses some people into thinking the Pleiades is the Little Dipper.
RACHEL
The star cluster is 444 light years away from the solar system.
PAUL
And astronomers believe it’s only 100 million years old.
RACHEL
That makes them only 1.5% as old as the solar system.
PAUL
Earth formed within 10 million years of the solar system’s origin, so we can expect stars in the Pleiades to have planets also.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, at 100 million years old, any planets in the Pleiades star cluster are still far from being able to support life.
PAUL
In fact, they are probably experiencing bombardment from the planetesimals still swarming in each nascent solar system.
RACHEL
What a sight the night sky would be however.
PAUL
The sky would be filled with lots of stars as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in Earth’s sky.
RACHEL
Perhaps our eyes would even be sensitive enough to see the dust and gas cloud wrapped around the stars of the Pleiades.
PAUL
It might be what it looks like when you’re inside a diamond.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 11th, 12th, and 13th of November.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies 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 November 11th, 12th, and 13th. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
On the 13th, stargazers will find the moon passing close to the Pleiades star cluster.
RACHEL
The Pleiades are also called the Seven Sisters.
PAUL
The cluster appears as a small and bright star cluster on the moon’s left.
RACHEL
If you aim your binoculars at this star cluster, you’ll see around 24 member stars.
PAUL
Of course, a telescope with mirror or lens larger than two inches will show more member stars.
RACHEL
In binoculars and to the eye, the star cluster forms a tiny dipper shape.
PAUL
This confuses some people into thinking the Pleiades is the Little Dipper.
RACHEL
The star cluster is 444 light years away from the solar system.
PAUL
And astronomers believe it’s only 100 million years old.
RACHEL
That makes them only 1.5% as old as the solar system.
PAUL
Earth formed within 10 million years of the solar system’s origin, so we can expect stars in the Pleiades to have planets also.
RACHEL
Unfortunately, at 100 million years old, any planets in the Pleiades star cluster are still far from being able to support life.
PAUL
In fact, they are probably experiencing bombardment from the planetesimals still swarming in each nascent solar system.
RACHEL
What a sight the night sky would be however.
PAUL
The sky would be filled with lots of stars as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in Earth’s sky.
RACHEL
Perhaps our eyes would even be sensitive enough to see the dust and gas cloud wrapped around the stars of the Pleiades.
PAUL
It might be what it looks like when you’re inside a diamond.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 11th, 12th, and 13th of November.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
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