RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Quick, name the two innermost planets.
PAUL
Easy, Mercury and Venus.
RACHEL
Well, these two worlds appear side by side on the evening of the 3rd.
PAUL
Venus will be bright and easy to see.
RACHEL
While Mercury will be fainter and just to the right of Venus.
PAUL
However, the two planets will appear very close together.
RACHEL
Which means you’ll see significant changes in their relative positions each night this week.
PAUL
To find Mercury and Venus, look in the low west at around 7 PM.
RACHEL
This will be after sunset when it’s safe to search this close to the sun.
PAUL
You won’t have a long time to look for them however, as they’re close to the horizon and setting soon.
RACHEL
It’ll be much easier to see them if you have a clear and low western horizon.
PAUL
So looking for them from the foothills would be ideal.
RACHEL
But even a yard will be fine, if your western horizon isn’t blocked by homes and trees.
PAUL
You might need a pair of binoculars to help you locate fainter Mercury.
RACHEL
But after you find it, you should be able to see it without optical aid.
PAUL
Since Venus is traveling away from the sun, it will appear higher above the horizon each evening.
RACHEL
But Mercury is on a tear and climbs faster than Venus until it peaks mid-month.
PAUL
Then tiny Mercury starts approaching the sun.
RACHEL
That means big differences in their relative positions for the rest of this month.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of March.
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.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for February 28th and March 1st
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 28th and March 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Take a quick look at the moon on the evening of the 28th.
RACHEL
That night, the moon is located in Leo the Lion and only two days from full.
PAUL
You’ll notice that there’s a bright star to the lower right of the moon. Can you guess its name?
RACHEL
If you said Regulus, then give yourself a pat on the back.
PAUL
Regulus represents the heart of Leo the Lion and its only ½ of a degree from the moon.
RACHEL
Or the same angular distance as the moon’s apparent diameter.
PAUL
Since the moon’s glare can be bright, Regulus will be easier to see if you use binoculars.
RACHEL
Regulus is 77 light years away from the solar system.
PAUL
So if you know someone who was born in 1941, then Regulus is their birthday star this year.
RACHEL
Fifty-two years ago on the 1st, the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet might have landed.
PAUL
Might have landed?
RACHEL
Yep, it might have. The Soviet’s launched Venera 3 the previous November with the hope of being the first to reach Venus.
PAUL
This was after their space program had suffered a long string of frustrations and failures with their previous unmanned missions.
RACHEL
This time, the launch successfully put the spacecraft on course for Venus.
PAUL
However, Venera 3’s radio system failed two weeks before it reached the planet.
RACHEL
Which means that the first spacecraft to reach another planet was probably dead on arrival.
PAUL
Hey, no one said that spaceflight was easy.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th of February and 1st of March.
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 February 28th and March 1st. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Take a quick look at the moon on the evening of the 28th.
RACHEL
That night, the moon is located in Leo the Lion and only two days from full.
PAUL
You’ll notice that there’s a bright star to the lower right of the moon. Can you guess its name?
RACHEL
If you said Regulus, then give yourself a pat on the back.
PAUL
Regulus represents the heart of Leo the Lion and its only ½ of a degree from the moon.
RACHEL
Or the same angular distance as the moon’s apparent diameter.
PAUL
Since the moon’s glare can be bright, Regulus will be easier to see if you use binoculars.
RACHEL
Regulus is 77 light years away from the solar system.
PAUL
So if you know someone who was born in 1941, then Regulus is their birthday star this year.
RACHEL
Fifty-two years ago on the 1st, the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet might have landed.
PAUL
Might have landed?
RACHEL
Yep, it might have. The Soviet’s launched Venera 3 the previous November with the hope of being the first to reach Venus.
PAUL
This was after their space program had suffered a long string of frustrations and failures with their previous unmanned missions.
RACHEL
This time, the launch successfully put the spacecraft on course for Venus.
PAUL
However, Venera 3’s radio system failed two weeks before it reached the planet.
RACHEL
Which means that the first spacecraft to reach another planet was probably dead on arrival.
PAUL
Hey, no one said that spaceflight was easy.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 28th of February and 1st of March.
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 February 26th and 27th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 26th and 27th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
On the 27th, we celebrate the 71st birthday of Alan Guth.
PAUL
Guth became famous in 1981 after he published a paper about the explosive growth in size that the early universe experienced at its birth.
RACHEL
He called this inflation and the concept helped settle a complex problem about the shape of the universe.
PAUL
The problem is that as best as astronomer’s can tell, the universe is exactly flat.
RACHEL
However, solutions to Einstein’s equations indicate that the universe is more likely to be curved, either spherically or saddle-shaped.
PAUL
So why was the universe so flat when there are an infinitely greater number of ways for it to be curved?
RACHEL
Well, Guth proposed that at its birth, the universe ballooned out explosively.
PAUL
And as a result, the initial curvature in the universe was smoothed out by its rapid expansion.
RACHEL
How explosive is this expansion that we’re talking about?
PAUL
Guth proposed a 10 quadrillion increase in its size in less than one octillionth of a second.
RACHEL
Yep, any curvature would definitely be smoothed out by that.
PAUL
On the evening of the 27th, be sure to aim your binoculars at the moon.
RACHEL
Because the Beehive star cluster will appear one binocular field of view above and slightly right of the moon.
PAUL
So to see it, place the moon at the bottom of your view.
RACHEL
Then you’ll see this cluster of about two dozen stars at the one o’clock edge.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th and 27th 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 February 26th and 27th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
On the 27th, we celebrate the 71st birthday of Alan Guth.
PAUL
Guth became famous in 1981 after he published a paper about the explosive growth in size that the early universe experienced at its birth.
RACHEL
He called this inflation and the concept helped settle a complex problem about the shape of the universe.
PAUL
The problem is that as best as astronomer’s can tell, the universe is exactly flat.
RACHEL
However, solutions to Einstein’s equations indicate that the universe is more likely to be curved, either spherically or saddle-shaped.
PAUL
So why was the universe so flat when there are an infinitely greater number of ways for it to be curved?
RACHEL
Well, Guth proposed that at its birth, the universe ballooned out explosively.
PAUL
And as a result, the initial curvature in the universe was smoothed out by its rapid expansion.
RACHEL
How explosive is this expansion that we’re talking about?
PAUL
Guth proposed a 10 quadrillion increase in its size in less than one octillionth of a second.
RACHEL
Yep, any curvature would definitely be smoothed out by that.
PAUL
On the evening of the 27th, be sure to aim your binoculars at the moon.
RACHEL
Because the Beehive star cluster will appear one binocular field of view above and slightly right of the moon.
PAUL
So to see it, place the moon at the bottom of your view.
RACHEL
Then you’ll see this cluster of about two dozen stars at the one o’clock edge.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 26th and 27th 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.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Idaho Skies Transcript for February 23rd, 24th, and 25th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 23rd, 24th, and 25th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is first quarter on the 23rd.
PAUL
The half-moon is one of the best astronomical objects for viewing through binoculars, spotting scope, or even a small telescope.
RACHEL
The craters along the terminator or boundary between day and night appear sharp because of the long shadows they cast.
PAUL
So look closely at the craters tonight and see if you can detect these two features of large craters.
RACHEL
First, look for a central peak.
PAUL
The instant that a meteorite strikes the lunar surface, it compresses the material below it.
RACHEL
However, rock doesn’t like that compression, so it rebounds as soon as the impact is over and the pressure is relieved.
PAUL
This can result in a central peak that’s over a mile high.
RACHEL
Now look for terraces along the inside of some crater rims.
PAUL
The impact of a meteorite blasts away material to create a crater.
RACHEL
And the walls of the newly formed crater are often too steep, so they collapse in landslides to create terraces.
PAUL
Small craters tend to be just bowl shaped and don’t have these features.
RACHEL
While you’re moon gazing, scan the neighborhood that the moon is visiting.
PAUL
It’s located at the tip of the Hyades star cluster.
RACHEL
So you’ll also see the bright star Aldebaran to the moon’s right.
PAUL
And the combination of moon and Hyades will form an attractive sight for your binoculars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of February.
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 February 23rd, 24th, and 25th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is first quarter on the 23rd.
PAUL
The half-moon is one of the best astronomical objects for viewing through binoculars, spotting scope, or even a small telescope.
RACHEL
The craters along the terminator or boundary between day and night appear sharp because of the long shadows they cast.
PAUL
So look closely at the craters tonight and see if you can detect these two features of large craters.
RACHEL
First, look for a central peak.
PAUL
The instant that a meteorite strikes the lunar surface, it compresses the material below it.
RACHEL
However, rock doesn’t like that compression, so it rebounds as soon as the impact is over and the pressure is relieved.
PAUL
This can result in a central peak that’s over a mile high.
RACHEL
Now look for terraces along the inside of some crater rims.
PAUL
The impact of a meteorite blasts away material to create a crater.
RACHEL
And the walls of the newly formed crater are often too steep, so they collapse in landslides to create terraces.
PAUL
Small craters tend to be just bowl shaped and don’t have these features.
RACHEL
While you’re moon gazing, scan the neighborhood that the moon is visiting.
PAUL
It’s located at the tip of the Hyades star cluster.
RACHEL
So you’ll also see the bright star Aldebaran to the moon’s right.
PAUL
And the combination of moon and Hyades will form an attractive sight for your binoculars.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of February.
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 February 21st and 22nd
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 21st and 22nd. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
You’ll find that the moon is being escorted by two attractive star clusters on the 22nd.
RACHEL
In fact, it looks like the moon has a star cluster in each arm that night.
PAUL
Which tells me that the moon has good taste in the company it keeps.
RACHEL
The star clusters are the Pleiades to the moon’s upper right...
PAUL
...and the Hyades to its upper left.
RACHEL
Both star clusters are packed with stars, but they do have some noticeable differences.
PAUL
To start with, the Hyades spans 33 light years and the Pleiades spans 45 light years.
RACHEL
So they’re roughly the same size.
PAUL
But the Hyades is only 150 light years away compared to the Pleiades which is 440 light years away.
RACHEL
Since the Hyades is closer to the solar system, it appears larger than the Pleiades.
PAUL
Second, the Hyades is 700 million years old while the Pleiades is only 100 million years old.
RACHEL
Meaning the stars of the Hyades has had more time to drift farther apart from one another.
PAUL
Without optical aid, stargazers should be able to see six stars in the Pleaides and about a dozen stars in the Hyades.
RACHEL
However, through binoculars, they’ll be able to see over two dozen stars in each star cluster.
PAUL
The stars of the Pleiades will be packed closely together and appear like a scattering of diamond dust.
RACHEL
But the Hyades is so large that it spans the binocular’s entire field of view.
PAUL
And that will weaken the glittery appearance of the star cluster.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st and 22nd of February.
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 February 21st and 22nd. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
You’ll find that the moon is being escorted by two attractive star clusters on the 22nd.
RACHEL
In fact, it looks like the moon has a star cluster in each arm that night.
PAUL
Which tells me that the moon has good taste in the company it keeps.
RACHEL
The star clusters are the Pleiades to the moon’s upper right...
PAUL
...and the Hyades to its upper left.
RACHEL
Both star clusters are packed with stars, but they do have some noticeable differences.
PAUL
To start with, the Hyades spans 33 light years and the Pleiades spans 45 light years.
RACHEL
So they’re roughly the same size.
PAUL
But the Hyades is only 150 light years away compared to the Pleiades which is 440 light years away.
RACHEL
Since the Hyades is closer to the solar system, it appears larger than the Pleiades.
PAUL
Second, the Hyades is 700 million years old while the Pleiades is only 100 million years old.
RACHEL
Meaning the stars of the Hyades has had more time to drift farther apart from one another.
PAUL
Without optical aid, stargazers should be able to see six stars in the Pleaides and about a dozen stars in the Hyades.
RACHEL
However, through binoculars, they’ll be able to see over two dozen stars in each star cluster.
PAUL
The stars of the Pleiades will be packed closely together and appear like a scattering of diamond dust.
RACHEL
But the Hyades is so large that it spans the binocular’s entire field of view.
PAUL
And that will weaken the glittery appearance of the star cluster.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 21st and 22nd of February.
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 February 19th and 20th
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The seventh planet is too dim to see without visual aid in all but the clearest and darkest skies.
PAUL
But it’s bright enough that it can be seen through binoculars, even in town.
RACHEL
Of course, you’ll need to block the street lights of your neighborhood if you want to see it.
PAUL
Look for Uranus on the 19th when it’s just seven degrees from the moon.
RACHEL
Since most binoculars, like 7X50s, have a field of view of 7.5 degrees, you can see both the moon and Uranus simultaneously.
PAUL
This is an evening event, so wait until the end of dusk.
RACHEL
Then aim your binoculars at the moon.
PAUL
Next place the moon at the bottom of your binoculars in the seven o’clock position.
RACHEL
Then find the star in the middle of your binoculars.
PAUL
If you follow a line between the moon and that star, it will take you to Uranus at the other end of your binoculars.
RACHEL
Uranus is considered an ice giant by astronomers.
PAUL
That means it’s more massive than Earth and made of compounds that are frozen solid at its distance from the sun.
RACHEL
Therefore, Uranus has only one quarter the amount of hydrogen and helium as Jupiter, but lots of methane, ammonia, and water.
PAUL
Most likely, there’s solid core residing inside of Uranus.
RACHEL
And astronomers predict its diameter is only 6,000 miles.
PAUL
Or ¾ of the dimeter of Earth.
RACHEL
But it’s primarily icy and not as rocky like Earth.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th and 20th 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.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 19th and 20th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The seventh planet is too dim to see without visual aid in all but the clearest and darkest skies.
PAUL
But it’s bright enough that it can be seen through binoculars, even in town.
RACHEL
Of course, you’ll need to block the street lights of your neighborhood if you want to see it.
PAUL
Look for Uranus on the 19th when it’s just seven degrees from the moon.
RACHEL
Since most binoculars, like 7X50s, have a field of view of 7.5 degrees, you can see both the moon and Uranus simultaneously.
PAUL
This is an evening event, so wait until the end of dusk.
RACHEL
Then aim your binoculars at the moon.
PAUL
Next place the moon at the bottom of your binoculars in the seven o’clock position.
RACHEL
Then find the star in the middle of your binoculars.
PAUL
If you follow a line between the moon and that star, it will take you to Uranus at the other end of your binoculars.
RACHEL
Uranus is considered an ice giant by astronomers.
PAUL
That means it’s more massive than Earth and made of compounds that are frozen solid at its distance from the sun.
RACHEL
Therefore, Uranus has only one quarter the amount of hydrogen and helium as Jupiter, but lots of methane, ammonia, and water.
PAUL
Most likely, there’s solid core residing inside of Uranus.
RACHEL
And astronomers predict its diameter is only 6,000 miles.
PAUL
Or ¾ of the dimeter of Earth.
RACHEL
But it’s primarily icy and not as rocky like Earth.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 19th and 20th 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, February 12, 2018
Idaho Skies for Transcript February 16th, 17th, and 18th
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 16th, 17th, and 18th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon was new on the 15th.
RACHEL
Meaning that it was too close to the sun for Idaho stargazers to see that day.
PAUL
However, stargazers have a chance to see the moon on the 16th.
RACHEL
That’s when the exceptionally thin moon will appear next to the bright Evening Star.
PAUL
So shortly after sunset on the 16th, look for Venus in the low west southwest.
RACHEL
Venus won’t be difficult to find if you look at around 6:30 PM.
PAUL
Ahh, but the moon on the other hand...
RACHEL
...that will be a tough nut to crack, so you’ll probably want binoculars.
PAUL
Look just a little above and left of Venus.
RACHEL
There you should see an incredibly thin crescent moon.
PAUL
The moon will only be 24 hours old on the 16th.
RACHEL
Which is far younger than two or three days old when most people first glimpse it.
PAUL
After you spot the moon in your binoculars, try looking for it without them.
RACHEL
It will help if you have a clear and low western horizon.
PAUL
So you might want to drive up into the foothills around Boise.
RACHEL
Now if you can’t find the moon on the 16th, try again on the 17th.
PAUL
That day the moon will be thicker, brighter, and even higher above Venus.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th, 17th, and 18th of February.
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 February 16th, 17th, and 18th. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon was new on the 15th.
RACHEL
Meaning that it was too close to the sun for Idaho stargazers to see that day.
PAUL
However, stargazers have a chance to see the moon on the 16th.
RACHEL
That’s when the exceptionally thin moon will appear next to the bright Evening Star.
PAUL
So shortly after sunset on the 16th, look for Venus in the low west southwest.
RACHEL
Venus won’t be difficult to find if you look at around 6:30 PM.
PAUL
Ahh, but the moon on the other hand...
RACHEL
...that will be a tough nut to crack, so you’ll probably want binoculars.
PAUL
Look just a little above and left of Venus.
RACHEL
There you should see an incredibly thin crescent moon.
PAUL
The moon will only be 24 hours old on the 16th.
RACHEL
Which is far younger than two or three days old when most people first glimpse it.
PAUL
After you spot the moon in your binoculars, try looking for it without them.
RACHEL
It will help if you have a clear and low western horizon.
PAUL
So you might want to drive up into the foothills around Boise.
RACHEL
Now if you can’t find the moon on the 16th, try again on the 17th.
PAUL
That day the moon will be thicker, brighter, and even higher above Venus.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th, 17th, and 18th of February.
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.
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