WEBVTT 00:19.953 --> 00:24.424 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: Welcome to Star Gazers. 00:24.524 --> 00:28.194 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% I'm James Albury, director of the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium in Gainesville, Florida. 00:28.294 --> 00:30.897 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: And I'm Dean Regas, astronomer from the Cincinnati 00:30.997 --> 00:35.168 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% Observatory, and we're here to help you find you way around the sky. 00:35.268 --> 00:39.372 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% As we get into the month of March, James and I would like to issue you a challenge. 00:39.472 --> 00:41.174 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: That s right Dean. 00:41.274 --> 00:45.512 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10% We re looking for keen-eyed star gazers to locate the two closest planets to the Sun. 00:45.612 --> 00:47.547 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: We re talking Mercury and Venus. 00:47.647 --> 00:49.149 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% Now, I m warning you. 00:49.249 --> 00:51.017 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% This could be tough. 00:51.117 --> 00:55.355 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% Mercury and Venus are just now emerging from the far side of the Sun and will be popping 00:55.455 --> 00:57.490 align:left position:77.5%,start line:89% size:12.5% out in the western sky just after sunset. 00:57.590 --> 01:00.026 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: You will have to time this just right and 01:00.126 --> 01:04.798 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% have a clear view to the western horizon and even then you might not be able to see them. 01:04.898 --> 01:07.834 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% They will slowly appear farther from the Sun as the month progresses. 01:07.934 --> 01:10.570 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: The challenge is this: what is the first day 01:10.670 --> 01:12.705 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% you can spot them both in the sky. 01:12.806 --> 01:14.140 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% JAMES: Oooh, I like it! 01:14.240 --> 01:15.208 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% DEAN: Challenge issued. 01:15.308 --> 01:16.342 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% JAMES: Challenge accepted! 01:16.443 --> 01:18.178 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% DEAN: Let s head to the sky! 01:18.278 --> 01:21.815 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: Okay, we have the sky set for February 25th 01:21.915 --> 01:23.650 align:left position:35%,start line:89% size:55% facing west. 01:23.750 --> 01:27.587 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% The Sun is about to set and as it does we want to look for suspiciously bright lights 01:27.687 --> 01:28.855 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% near the horizon. 01:28.955 --> 01:31.191 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: The brightest planet in the night sky is Venus 01:31.291 --> 01:35.628 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% and it should be the first of our two planets to pop into view as the sky darkens. 01:35.728 --> 01:38.665 align:left position:85%,start line:89% size:5% There it is just above the treetops. 01:38.765 --> 01:42.535 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% Now it will be extremely low in the sky so you will need a viewing spot free from trees 01:42.635 --> 01:43.937 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% or buildings. 01:44.037 --> 01:45.405 align:left position:82.5%,start line:89% size:7.5% And of course it has to be clear out! 01:45.505 --> 01:47.707 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: Mercury, on the other hand, may be the real 01:47.807 --> 01:49.442 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% challenge to find in February. 01:49.542 --> 01:54.781 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% It is way dimmer than Venus and tends to get lost in the haze above the horizon. 01:54.881 --> 01:58.885 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% But as the weeks roll on, Mercury will become easier to spot. 01:58.985 --> 02:02.122 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% Here is the sky, same time of night on February 26 02:02.222 --> 02:03.123 align:left position:45%,start line:89% size:45% 27 02:03.223 --> 02:06.626 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% 28 and March 1st. 02:06.726 --> 02:09.629 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: Venus appears higher in the sky and you see 02:09.729 --> 02:11.664 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% that little dot next to it? 02:11.764 --> 02:14.300 align:left position:85%,start line:89% size:5% That is the elusive planet Mercury. 02:14.400 --> 02:18.238 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% Most people have never seen Mercury (or at least they probably never noticed it), but 02:18.338 --> 02:19.506 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% Venus will help. 02:19.606 --> 02:22.642 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10% On March 2nd they ll be closer still and on March 3rd 02:22.742 --> 02:24.144 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% They ll be in conjunction! 02:24.244 --> 02:25.778 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: James favorite time of the year! 02:25.879 --> 02:30.817 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10% Let s fly up there to get a closer look at our two innermost planets. 02:30.917 --> 02:33.987 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: The reason Mercury and Venus can be so tough 02:34.087 --> 02:37.757 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10% to see is because they re in between us and the Sun. 02:37.857 --> 02:42.462 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% They re up in the sky as much as any other planet but most of the time the Sun is there 02:42.562 --> 02:43.830 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% with them. 02:43.930 --> 02:46.499 align:left position:82.5%,start line:83% size:7.5% It s so bright outside you can t find their feeble light. 02:46.599 --> 02:49.202 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: But at certain places in their orbits we can 02:49.302 --> 02:53.439 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% see them either just after sunset or just before sunrise. 02:53.540 --> 02:57.877 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% These positions are called elongations when the Sun seems farthest from them 02:57.977 --> 02:59.078 align:left position:35%,start line:89% size:55% in the sky. 02:59.179 --> 03:01.347 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: If we want to fly to Venus, it would still 03:01.447 --> 03:03.283 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% be quite a trip. 03:03.383 --> 03:06.052 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% It is over 150 million miles from Earth this week. 03:06.152 --> 03:07.887 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% Unfortunately, from above, there wouldn t be 03:07.987 --> 03:09.022 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% a lot to see. 03:09.122 --> 03:11.558 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: Venus is perpetually covered in clouds. 03:11.658 --> 03:15.862 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% The clouds reflect a lot of sunlight and trap in a whole lot of heat. 03:15.962 --> 03:20.200 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% So Venus, although farther from the Sun than Mercury, is the hottest planet. 03:20.300 --> 03:21.668 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: That s right! 03:21.768 --> 03:24.571 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% The surface of Venus swelters at around 900 degrees Fahrenheit! 03:24.671 --> 03:27.407 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: If we quickly hop over to Mercury we will 03:27.507 --> 03:29.375 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% find a very different planet. 03:29.475 --> 03:30.944 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: Look, no clouds! 03:31.044 --> 03:34.514 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% We can see the surface of Mercury every mountain and every crater. 03:34.614 --> 03:39.152 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% At least we can now thanks to the Messenger spacecraft which mapped out Mercury a few 03:39.252 --> 03:40.386 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% years ago. 03:40.486 --> 03:42.255 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: We actually didn t know what half of Mercury 03:42.355 --> 03:43.923 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% looked like until 2011. 03:44.023 --> 03:48.127 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% It s so close to the Sun that it is really tough to view from Earth. 03:48.228 --> 03:51.464 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: So take the Venus-Mercury challenge and see 03:51.564 --> 03:53.566 align:left position:80%,start line:89% size:10% when you can first spot the two planets. 03:53.666 --> 03:56.402 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: Look to the western horizon every clear night 03:56.502 --> 03:58.238 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% just after sunset. 03:58.338 --> 04:02.709 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% If conditions are just right and you have keen eyesight you may see them on March 1st, 04:02.809 --> 04:04.077 align:left position:35%,start line:89% size:55% 2nd, or 3rd. 04:04.177 --> 04:07.180 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% DEAN: Or maybe you have such amazing, eagle-eyes 04:07.280 --> 04:09.716 align:left position:70%,start line:89% size:20% that you may find Venus and Mercury in February. 04:09.816 --> 04:11.851 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% JAMES: We ll definitely be looking. 04:11.951 --> 04:15.088 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% Let us know when you see them and try to find them before we do. 04:15.188 --> 04:16.956 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% DEAN: Accept our challenge as you 04:17.056 --> 04:21.056 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% BOTH: Keep looking up!