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Satellite feed info:

STAH 1101-113
WPBT offer/WPBT uplink

All Wednesdays/All SD06

Half Hour Feed
1109SD Base P389228-001
Wednesday 15 February 2012 - 1230-1300
Includes episodes 1206, 1207, 1208, 1209

Notice : These are working drafts of the scripts for STAR GAZERs.
Changes may well be made as production requires.

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"Star Gazers" is available with iTunes,
for downloading with Quicktime
and we're on YouTube

"STAR GAZERS"

"The Brightest Of The Bright"

Dean: Hey there Star Gazers. I'm Dean Regas, Outreach Astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory.

James: And I'm James Albury, Director of the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium in Gainesville, Florida. We're here to help you find your way around the sky tonight. With so many planets, stars, and constellations, where do you begin?

Dean: i recommend starting with the five brightest nighttime objects of 2012. Visible even from downtown locations, these celestial wonders are sure to capture your imagination. Let's get started!

James: Of course, we have to begin with the Moon - #1 brightest nighttime object. How can you not be awed by the sight of a full Moon rising above the eastern horizon? Or a thin, delicate crescent cradling the darkened orb after sunset?

Dean: This week the Moon is visible in the morning just before sunrise. Its called a waning crescent and will soon move to the invisible phase called new Moon on February 21st when it will be almost directly in front of the Sun.

James: But next week, on February 23rd you'll see the slimmest of waxing crescents right after sunset, low in the west. And each night after that, the Moon will appear fuller and fuller and farther from the sun. Here it is on the 24th the 25th and the 26th

Dean: Wait a second. Hold up. Go back one day.

James: to the 25th?

Dean: Therewhat's that bright thing just below the Moon?

James: is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a UFO? No, that's the second brightest nighttime object, the dazzling planet Venus. Venus is the brightest star-like object in the night sky and can now be seen in the evening low in the west

Dean: Venus is so incredibly bright because the planet is perpetually covered in clouds - and these clouds reflect sunlight much better than any other planet. Venus is about 86 million miles away right now but will be getting closer each day and will be blazing away in the evening skies until may.

James: Now when we look ahead to February 26th again we'll see the crescent Moon next to the third brightest nighttime object - the giant planet Jupiter.

Dean: There is no mistaking Jupiter's steady, cream-colored glow. With even a small telescope, Jupiter reveals a hidden system of four moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The cloud bands and Great Red Spot can also be seen with a larger scope.

Dean: Next up let's look to the southeast for Sirius, aka the dog star. Sirius is seriously bright - making it the fourth brightest nighttime object. The name Sirius comes from a Greek word meaning searing or scorching. And it lives up to its name, since it's twice as bright as any other star in the sky.

James: Sirius appears so bright because it is so close - relatively speaking. At only 8.5 light years away, the dog star is the fifth closest star to us. Look for Sirius rising in the southeast after dark. The star marks the nose of the constellation Canis Major, the big dog.

Dean: Number 5 on our list is another planet who's been brightening up as we rapidly approach it - the red planet, Mars. Here, we're looking east at about 8 pm. Mars is bright but its color is what really stands out. Although it's called the red planet, it looks more orange to the naked eye.

James: But it's definitely a different hue than brighter Sirius in the southeast. The diameter of Mars is about half that of the Earth. So it's a pretty small planet, and right now it's over 60 million miles away.

Dean: But this is about as close as Mars will be to us this year. Check it out tonight and wave to the Martians.

James: There you have it, the top five brightest nighttime objects.

Dean: Get out there and find the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Sirius, and Mars tonight. The Moon will be right next to Venus on the 25th.

James: Right next to Jupiter on the 26th.

Dean: And then look for sparkling Sirius in the southeast and orangey Mars in the east.

James: Now, technically there are brighter things in the sky.

Dean: Man-made objects you mean?

James: Exactly. Several satellites reflect enough sunlight to appear brighter than the brightest stars. They're usually visible within an hour before sunrise or within an hour after sunset. The International Space Station can outshine Jupiter and a fleet of satellites called Iridium Satellites can shine almost 100 times brighter than Venus.

Dean: Check out websites like heavens-above.com to find out when the Space Station or other satellites will go over your home. Its all there when you

Both: Keep looking up!


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"Star Gazers" is available with iTunes,
for downloading with Quicktime
and we're on YouTube

James: Hey there Star Gazers. This week Dean and I have lined up the five brightest objects in the night sky for you.

Dean: #1 on the list let's take you to the Moon!

Dean: Next week, on February 23rd you'll see the slimmest of crescents right after sunset, low in the west. And each night after that, the Moon will appear fuller and higher in the sky. Here it is on the 24th and the 25th.

James: Wow, the Moon will be right next to the second brightest nighttime object, dazzling Venus.

Dean: Now when we look ahead to February 26th, we'll see the crescent Moon next to the third brightest nighttime object - giant Jupiter.

James: Next let's look to the southeast for Sirius, aka the Dog Star. Sirius is seriously bright - making it the fourth brightest nighttime object.

Dean: And in the east you'll find Mars, rounding out our top-five list.

Both: Keep looking up!


Please give us your comments. (Click Here)

* This week's Sky At A Glance and Planet Roundup from Sky & Telescope.

Starry Night 6 was used to produce this episode of "Star Gazers"

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