RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The first spacecraft to successfully land on another astronomical body was Luna 9.
PAUL
The spacecraft set down on the moon on February 3rd, 1966.
RACHEL
It was a Soviet spacecraft and one of the early volleys fired in the Space Race between the US and USSR.
PAUL
Luna 3 weighed 250 pounds and it was mounted on top of a crasher stage.
RACHEL
A crasher stage is designed to slow down a payload, but not to land soft enough to survive the landing itself.
PAUL
So at the last moment, the crasher stage ejected the Luna 9 lander.
RACHEL
The spherical Luna 9 rolled a short distance away from the crash site and then opened up its four metal petals.
PAUL
The spacecraft was equipped with a television camera, which it used to send the first pictures of the lunar surface.
RACHEL
These images proved the moon’s surface was strong enough to support the weight of a spacecraft.
PAUL
And it proved that the surface would not engulf future astronauts like alien quicksand.
RACHEL
On the 4th, we celebrate the birth of American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.
PAUL
Tombaugh is known for his 1930 discovery of Pluto.
RACHEL
Some, but not many, late 19th and early 20th century astronomers had predicted the existence of a 9th planet based on supposed errors in the position of Neptune.
PAUL
As an astronomer at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, Tombaugh took nightly pictures of the sky.
RACHEL
By comparing two pictures of the same part of the sky on two different nights, he could detect changes in position that indicated a planet in motion.
PAUL
After finding hundreds of asteroids, Tombaugh finally found a distant planet.
RACHEL
But today we know Pluto is actually one of millions of icy asteroid-like bodies in cold depths of the solar system and not an actual planet.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of February.
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, January 29, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for January 31st and February 1st
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 31st and February 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon becomes full at 7:27 AM on the 31st.
RACHEL
This is a super moon and the second full moon of January.
PAUL
Often called a Blue Moon, the second full moon of the month is not necessarily a Blue Moon.
RACHEL
And Idaho Skies will explain this in March when we actually do have a Blue Moon.
PAUL
What’s most important about this full moon is that it’s passing through the center of Earth’s shadow.
RACHEL
Meaning Idaho stargazers will be able to see a total lunar eclipse on the morning of Wednesday the 31st.
PAUL
The moon enters Earth’s fainter outer shadow or penumbra at 3:53 AM.
RACHEL
But the eclipse won’t be noticeable until around 4:30 in the morning.
PAUL
By 5:30 AM, the moon will enter well within deeper center of Earth’s shadow, or umbra.
RACHEL
By then, stargazers will be able to see a red glow across the lunar surface.
PAUL
That red glow comes from all of the sunsets occurring around the rim of the Earth, from the moon’s perspective.
RACHEL
An astronaut standing on the moon would see a bright red-orange ring overhead where Earth normally appears.
PAUL
The first light of dawn begins around 6:30 AM, so you’ll have between 5:30 and 6:30 to get your best views of the eclipse.
RACHEL
And since this is the Super Moon for 2018, the lunar eclipse will appear about 10% larger than on average.
PAUL
So take a peek at the moon after you wake up and as you drive to work on the 31st.
RACHEL
The moon will appear in the low west and have a distinctive red tint.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 31st of January and 1st of February.
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 January 31st and February 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon becomes full at 7:27 AM on the 31st.
RACHEL
This is a super moon and the second full moon of January.
PAUL
Often called a Blue Moon, the second full moon of the month is not necessarily a Blue Moon.
RACHEL
And Idaho Skies will explain this in March when we actually do have a Blue Moon.
PAUL
What’s most important about this full moon is that it’s passing through the center of Earth’s shadow.
RACHEL
Meaning Idaho stargazers will be able to see a total lunar eclipse on the morning of Wednesday the 31st.
PAUL
The moon enters Earth’s fainter outer shadow or penumbra at 3:53 AM.
RACHEL
But the eclipse won’t be noticeable until around 4:30 in the morning.
PAUL
By 5:30 AM, the moon will enter well within deeper center of Earth’s shadow, or umbra.
RACHEL
By then, stargazers will be able to see a red glow across the lunar surface.
PAUL
That red glow comes from all of the sunsets occurring around the rim of the Earth, from the moon’s perspective.
RACHEL
An astronaut standing on the moon would see a bright red-orange ring overhead where Earth normally appears.
PAUL
The first light of dawn begins around 6:30 AM, so you’ll have between 5:30 and 6:30 to get your best views of the eclipse.
RACHEL
And since this is the Super Moon for 2018, the lunar eclipse will appear about 10% larger than on average.
PAUL
So take a peek at the moon after you wake up and as you drive to work on the 31st.
RACHEL
The moon will appear in the low west and have a distinctive red tint.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 31st of January and 1st of February.
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 January 29th and 30th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 29th and 30th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
One of the finest star clusters visible from Idaho is the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
This star cluster is bright enough, that in dark skies, it appears as a hazy patched next to two stars in Cancer the Crab.
RACHEL
You’ll find this star cluster a mere three degrees left of the moon the 30th.
PAUL
So place the moon in the right edge of your binoculars.
RACHEL
Then the star cluster will appear as sprinkle of stars in the center of your binoculars.
PAUL
That sprinkle of 20 or so stars will appear as large as the moon, so it’s difficult to miss.
RACHEL
Star clusters like the Beehive are born inside of nebulae, or cloud of dust and gas spanning light years.
PAUL
Unless a nebula is very massive, it won’t collapse on its own.
RACHEL
So a smaller nebula needs some sort of gravitational disturbance to make it collapse.
PAUL
That event could be something like a passing star...
RACHEL
...a nearby supernova explosion...
PAUL
...or even the collision of its parent galaxy with another galaxy.
RACHEL
Once the cloud begins its collapse, its internal gas pressure can no longer support its increasing density.
PAUL
And so, the cloud breaks up into a multitude of shrinking gas bubbles that grow hotter as they get smaller.
RACHEL
The shrinking bubbles eventually reach a point where the majority of their mass is less than a million miles across.
PAUL
Then depending on its total mass, the cloud’s core will grow hot enough to fuse hydrogen.
RACHEL
And then, a star is born.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 29th and 30th of January.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Pauel.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 29th and 30th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
One of the finest star clusters visible from Idaho is the Beehive star cluster.
PAUL
This star cluster is bright enough, that in dark skies, it appears as a hazy patched next to two stars in Cancer the Crab.
RACHEL
You’ll find this star cluster a mere three degrees left of the moon the 30th.
PAUL
So place the moon in the right edge of your binoculars.
RACHEL
Then the star cluster will appear as sprinkle of stars in the center of your binoculars.
PAUL
That sprinkle of 20 or so stars will appear as large as the moon, so it’s difficult to miss.
RACHEL
Star clusters like the Beehive are born inside of nebulae, or cloud of dust and gas spanning light years.
PAUL
Unless a nebula is very massive, it won’t collapse on its own.
RACHEL
So a smaller nebula needs some sort of gravitational disturbance to make it collapse.
PAUL
That event could be something like a passing star...
RACHEL
...a nearby supernova explosion...
PAUL
...or even the collision of its parent galaxy with another galaxy.
RACHEL
Once the cloud begins its collapse, its internal gas pressure can no longer support its increasing density.
PAUL
And so, the cloud breaks up into a multitude of shrinking gas bubbles that grow hotter as they get smaller.
RACHEL
The shrinking bubbles eventually reach a point where the majority of their mass is less than a million miles across.
PAUL
Then depending on its total mass, the cloud’s core will grow hot enough to fuse hydrogen.
RACHEL
And then, a star is born.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 29th and 30th of January.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...
PAUL
...and Pauel.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for January 26th, 27th, and 28th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 26th, 27th, and 28th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
After it gets dark on the 26th, go outside with binoculars and look for the moon.
PAUL
Stargazers will find the moon skirting the edge of the Hyades star cluster.
RACHEL
The Hyades is V shaped and its represents the face of Taurus the Bull.
PAUL
The bull’s eye is the orangish star Aldebaran, which appears at one tip of the Hyades.
RACHEL
The moon slowly approaches this star all night long.
PAUL
Or at least until 3:00 AM when the moon sets.
RACHEL
Binoculars aimed at the Hyades will fill with a wide scattering of stars.
PAUL
And the moon will be perfectly placed to form the vertex of the sideways V of stars.
RACHEL
The next night, the 27th, the moon will appear above Orion the Hunter.
PAUL
Orion is a large and bright constellation.
RACHEL
Which appears as a rectangle of stars below and right of the moon.
PAUL
Then on the 28th, stargazers will find the moon at the feet of Gemini the Twins.
RACHEL
Gemini consists of two parallel rows of stars and they’ll be visible on the left side of the moon.
PAUL
Why is this region of the sky filled with so many bright stars?
RACHEL
Astronomers have asked the same question.
PAUL
They found that these stars are part of a bright ring of stars between 1,500 and 2,400 light years wide that circles the solar system.
RACHEL
Astronomers have given the ring the name Gould’s Belt and it’s at least 30 million years old.
PAUL
Whatever caused it, resulted in additional bright stars including those in Scorpius the Scorpion.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th, 27th and 28th of January.
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 January 26th, 27th, and 28th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
After it gets dark on the 26th, go outside with binoculars and look for the moon.
PAUL
Stargazers will find the moon skirting the edge of the Hyades star cluster.
RACHEL
The Hyades is V shaped and its represents the face of Taurus the Bull.
PAUL
The bull’s eye is the orangish star Aldebaran, which appears at one tip of the Hyades.
RACHEL
The moon slowly approaches this star all night long.
PAUL
Or at least until 3:00 AM when the moon sets.
RACHEL
Binoculars aimed at the Hyades will fill with a wide scattering of stars.
PAUL
And the moon will be perfectly placed to form the vertex of the sideways V of stars.
RACHEL
The next night, the 27th, the moon will appear above Orion the Hunter.
PAUL
Orion is a large and bright constellation.
RACHEL
Which appears as a rectangle of stars below and right of the moon.
PAUL
Then on the 28th, stargazers will find the moon at the feet of Gemini the Twins.
RACHEL
Gemini consists of two parallel rows of stars and they’ll be visible on the left side of the moon.
PAUL
Why is this region of the sky filled with so many bright stars?
RACHEL
Astronomers have asked the same question.
PAUL
They found that these stars are part of a bright ring of stars between 1,500 and 2,400 light years wide that circles the solar system.
RACHEL
Astronomers have given the ring the name Gould’s Belt and it’s at least 30 million years old.
PAUL
Whatever caused it, resulted in additional bright stars including those in Scorpius the Scorpion.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th, 27th and 28th of January.
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 January 24th and 25th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 24th and 25th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon reaches first quarter on the 24th.
RACHEL
So take a peek at the moon after dark.
PAUL
Before using your binoculars though, use just your eyes and look for a dark oval on the right edge of the moon.
RACHEL
This is Mare Crisium, or the Sea of Crises.
PAUL
This lunar sea is 345 miles across.
RACHEL
That’s 40 miles wider than Idaho but 120 miles shorter than Idaho is tall.
PAUL
Lunar seas like the Sea of Crises are lava-filled impact basins.
RACHEL
The impact creating this basin occurred between 3.9 and 4.5 billion years ago.
PAUL
Layers of molten rock, perhaps even miles thick, slowly filled with impact basin with sheets of lava.
RACHEL
Since this occurred after most planet-forming bodies had been swept up by the planets, there are very few large craters in the Sea of Crises.
PAUL
The Sea of Crises received its official name from Jesuit astronomer Giovanni Riccioli in 1651.
RACHEL
But at other times, this lunar sea was called the Caspian Sea and Brittania.
PAUL
There’s a crashed spacecraft in the Sea of Crises and it happened on the same day that the Apollo 11 astronauts set foot on the moon.
RACHEL
The Soviet Union sent the unmanned Luna 15 spacecraft to the moon in the hopes of returning a moon sample before the Americans.
PAUL
Unbeknownst to Soviet scientists and engineers, there was a mountain between Luna 15 and its landing site.
RACHEL
So as the Luna 15 was preparing to land, it ran head on into the side of a mountain.
PAUL
And turned into an expanding pile of expensive debris.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 24th and 25th of January.
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 January 24th and 25th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon reaches first quarter on the 24th.
RACHEL
So take a peek at the moon after dark.
PAUL
Before using your binoculars though, use just your eyes and look for a dark oval on the right edge of the moon.
RACHEL
This is Mare Crisium, or the Sea of Crises.
PAUL
This lunar sea is 345 miles across.
RACHEL
That’s 40 miles wider than Idaho but 120 miles shorter than Idaho is tall.
PAUL
Lunar seas like the Sea of Crises are lava-filled impact basins.
RACHEL
The impact creating this basin occurred between 3.9 and 4.5 billion years ago.
PAUL
Layers of molten rock, perhaps even miles thick, slowly filled with impact basin with sheets of lava.
RACHEL
Since this occurred after most planet-forming bodies had been swept up by the planets, there are very few large craters in the Sea of Crises.
PAUL
The Sea of Crises received its official name from Jesuit astronomer Giovanni Riccioli in 1651.
RACHEL
But at other times, this lunar sea was called the Caspian Sea and Brittania.
PAUL
There’s a crashed spacecraft in the Sea of Crises and it happened on the same day that the Apollo 11 astronauts set foot on the moon.
RACHEL
The Soviet Union sent the unmanned Luna 15 spacecraft to the moon in the hopes of returning a moon sample before the Americans.
PAUL
Unbeknownst to Soviet scientists and engineers, there was a mountain between Luna 15 and its landing site.
RACHEL
So as the Luna 15 was preparing to land, it ran head on into the side of a mountain.
PAUL
And turned into an expanding pile of expensive debris.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 24th and 25th of January.
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 January 22nd and 23rd
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 22nd and 23rd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Twenty years ago, the United States and Russia where flying international space missions to the Mir space station.
PAUL
One of them was Space Shuttle flight STS-89, which NASA launched on January 22nd, 1998.
RACHEL
Mir was an aging Russian space station and the Space Shuttle was transferring supplies and astronauts with the station.
PAUL
The United States hoped that this exercise would create a sense of cooperation between the two competing space powers.
RACHEL
And eventually, lead to the International Space Station that’s in operation today.
PAUL
Unfortunately, the age and generally poor condition of Mir resulted in the lost of several American experiments.
RACHEL
Some of the American experiments became inaccessible after the collision between an unmanned Russian resupply mission and MIR.
PAUL
Hey stargazers, the seventh planet is easily observable through binoculars.
RACHEL
The problem in seeing Uranus is knowing where to point those binoculars.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon comes to our rescue on the 23rd.
RACHEL
The distance between the moon and Uranus is five degrees or 2/3rds of the way across a binocular’s field of view.
PAUL
So aim your binoculars at the moon at around 7:30 PM.
RACHEL
Then place the moon on the edge of your field of view in the 7:00 position.
PAUL
Uranus will be the last star you’ll see in the upper right of your view.
RACHEL
The planet is bright enough that you’ll be able to see it in town.
PAUL
However, it will be easier if you get out from under street lights and away from house lighting.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 22nd and 23rd of January.
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 January 22nd and 23rd. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Twenty years ago, the United States and Russia where flying international space missions to the Mir space station.
PAUL
One of them was Space Shuttle flight STS-89, which NASA launched on January 22nd, 1998.
RACHEL
Mir was an aging Russian space station and the Space Shuttle was transferring supplies and astronauts with the station.
PAUL
The United States hoped that this exercise would create a sense of cooperation between the two competing space powers.
RACHEL
And eventually, lead to the International Space Station that’s in operation today.
PAUL
Unfortunately, the age and generally poor condition of Mir resulted in the lost of several American experiments.
RACHEL
Some of the American experiments became inaccessible after the collision between an unmanned Russian resupply mission and MIR.
PAUL
Hey stargazers, the seventh planet is easily observable through binoculars.
RACHEL
The problem in seeing Uranus is knowing where to point those binoculars.
PAUL
Fortunately, the moon comes to our rescue on the 23rd.
RACHEL
The distance between the moon and Uranus is five degrees or 2/3rds of the way across a binocular’s field of view.
PAUL
So aim your binoculars at the moon at around 7:30 PM.
RACHEL
Then place the moon on the edge of your field of view in the 7:00 position.
PAUL
Uranus will be the last star you’ll see in the upper right of your view.
RACHEL
The planet is bright enough that you’ll be able to see it in town.
PAUL
However, it will be easier if you get out from under street lights and away from house lighting.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 22nd and 23rd of January.
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.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for January 19th, 20th, and 21st
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 19th, 20th, and 21st. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Sharp-eyed stargazers will find a two-day old moon on the 19th.
PAUL
Since it’s only two days old, it will be a very thin crescent.
RACHEL
Look in the very low southwest at around 7:00 PM, or as soon as it gets dark.
PAUL
The moon will be so thin that it will be difficult to see lunar detail, even through binoculars.
RACHEL
But binoculars still help you find the moon.
PAUL
The moon will be too close to the horizon to show any earthshine.
RACHEL
So keep an eye on the moon for the next three or so nights in order to see the old moon in the arms of the young.
PAUL
That’s a fancy name for earthshine.
RACHEL
On Friday, be sure to look for a bright star to the moon’s left.
PAUL
You’ll observe Fomalhaut, that lonely star you were seeing in the low south last autumn.
RACHEL
Now for something difficult.
PAUL
If you aim your binoculars at the moon on the 20th, you can see Neptune.
RACHEL
Neptune will be three degrees right of the moon.
PAUL
This means if you center the moon on the left edge of your binoculars, Neptune will be just left of center.
RACHEL
Be careful though, there will be a bright star almost exactly in the center of your view.
PAUL
So look just a little left of that star and back towards the moon.
RACHEL
Neptune will be significantly fainter than the central star, so this observation is best made outside of town.
PAUL
And Neptune will form the corner of a triangle of five stars that are visible in your binoculars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th, 20th, and 21st of January.
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 January 19th, 20th, and 21st. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Sharp-eyed stargazers will find a two-day old moon on the 19th.
PAUL
Since it’s only two days old, it will be a very thin crescent.
RACHEL
Look in the very low southwest at around 7:00 PM, or as soon as it gets dark.
PAUL
The moon will be so thin that it will be difficult to see lunar detail, even through binoculars.
RACHEL
But binoculars still help you find the moon.
PAUL
The moon will be too close to the horizon to show any earthshine.
RACHEL
So keep an eye on the moon for the next three or so nights in order to see the old moon in the arms of the young.
PAUL
That’s a fancy name for earthshine.
RACHEL
On Friday, be sure to look for a bright star to the moon’s left.
PAUL
You’ll observe Fomalhaut, that lonely star you were seeing in the low south last autumn.
RACHEL
Now for something difficult.
PAUL
If you aim your binoculars at the moon on the 20th, you can see Neptune.
RACHEL
Neptune will be three degrees right of the moon.
PAUL
This means if you center the moon on the left edge of your binoculars, Neptune will be just left of center.
RACHEL
Be careful though, there will be a bright star almost exactly in the center of your view.
PAUL
So look just a little left of that star and back towards the moon.
RACHEL
Neptune will be significantly fainter than the central star, so this observation is best made outside of town.
PAUL
And Neptune will form the corner of a triangle of five stars that are visible in your binoculars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th, 20th, and 21st of January.
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.
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