1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,800 Howdy Stargazers, and welcome to this episode of Star Trails. 2 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:18,120 I'm Drew, and I'll be your guide to the night sky for the week starting November 10th to 3 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:19,840 the 16th. 4 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,640 This week we welcome another full supermoon. 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,200 Mercury makes its presence known. 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:31,120 Jupiter and Saturn take turns dancing with the moon and we're on the cusp of the Leonids, 7 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,920 the king of meteor showers. 8 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,560 And later in the show, we'll take a look at the high speed particles that sometimes cause 9 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:44,360 astronauts to see light with their eyes closed, cosmic rays. 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:50,760 So grab a comfortable spot under the night sky and let's get started. 11 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,680 We kick things off with the moon. 12 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,440 We'll be in the first quarter phase on November the 10th. 13 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:01,880 That means the moon will be more than 50% illuminated, making this a great time to view 14 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,560 its craters and mountains in sharp relief. 15 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:11,400 Then on November 15th, we'll have the full moon known as the beaver moon. 16 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,680 This name comes from Native American and early colonial traditions, marking the time when 17 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:22,440 beavers start preparing for winter, safely tucked away in their lodges after gathering 18 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,040 food. 19 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,080 November's full moon was a sign that it was time to finish up the preparations for the 20 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:29,360 colder months. 21 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:35,440 It's also sometimes called the frost moon or the snow moon as it typically coincides 22 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,400 with the first signs of winter. 23 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,600 This full moon will peak in the afternoon on November 15th, but it will be bright and 24 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,600 striking throughout the nights of the 15th and the 16th, so be sure to look up and enjoy 25 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,080 the site. 26 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:55,280 The beaver moon is the last of four straight super moons we've had this year, so it will 27 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,080 be especially large and bright. 28 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,760 On the evening of November 10th, look for Saturn, just a pinky-wit the way from the 29 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,680 moon in the southeastern sky. 30 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:10,960 This pairing will be quite close, creating a fantastic sight for binoculars or a small 31 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,800 telescope. 32 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:18,440 Saturn will stay visible through most of the night in the constellation Aquarius. 33 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,400 Even on November 16th, Jupiter gets its turn next to the moon. 34 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:28,400 Jupiter will be rising in the east around 6.30pm, and by early evening you'll be able 35 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,560 to spot it shining bright near the nearly full moon. 36 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:38,280 Jupiter will be visible alongside some iconic winter constellations including Taurus and 37 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,560 Orion, making it easy to find. 38 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:46,080 Mars is also making an appearance, although it rises later at night. 39 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,200 You can catch it in the early morning sky before dawn, glowing with its distinctive reddish 40 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:52,320 color. 41 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:57,120 And keep an eye out as Mars continues to brighten over the coming months. 42 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,240 For those with a clear horizon, Venus will be low on the western horizon shortly after 43 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,440 sunset, though it stays close to the horizon and fades quickly. 44 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:12,360 If you want to see Venus, aim to catch it right as the sky begins to darken. 45 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:18,360 On November 16th, Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, appearing farthest from 46 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,060 the sun in the evening sky. 47 00:03:21,060 --> 00:03:26,360 This marks the best chance to spot Mercury for this month, so look low in the southwest 48 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:34,480 shortly after sunset. 49 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:39,040 If you're looking to catch a dazzling show in the night sky, November has something 50 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,840 spectacular in store, the Leonid Meteor Shower. 51 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:49,600 Known as the King of Meteor Showers, the Leonids are famous for their speed, brilliance, and 52 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:55,560 on rare occasions, absolutely jaw-dropping meteor storms. 53 00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:01,480 The Leonids occur each year when Earth crosses the debris trail of Comet Temple Tuttle, which 54 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:05,000 orbits the sun every 33 years. 55 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,360 As Earth sweeps through the scattered bits of dust and rock left behind by this comet, 56 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,040 these particles hit our atmosphere and burn up, creating those bright streaks of light 57 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,160 we call meteors or shooting stars. 58 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,280 The Leonids are known for their incredible speed. 59 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:28,320 These meteors zoom through the atmosphere at up to 71 km per second, that's more than 60 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,000 150,000 miles per hour. 61 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:37,960 They're among the fastest of any meteor shower, which makes for a dramatic light show. 62 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:44,160 This speed also helps produce vibrant trails and even occasional fireballs. 63 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:49,760 Some Leonid meteors leave glowing trains that linger for several seconds after the meteor 64 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:54,520 streaks by, adding a bit of magic to the experience. 65 00:04:54,520 --> 00:05:00,040 But what really sets the Leonids apart is their history of meteor storms. 66 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:05,400 Instead of a few meteors per minute, a meteor storm can bring hundreds or even thousands 67 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,480 of meteors per hour. 68 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:13,680 The last Leonid meteor storm was in 2001, with rates reaching hundreds of meteors per 69 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:19,000 minute, which absolutely stunned observers around the world. 70 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:24,160 Even though we're not expecting a storm this year, the Leonids are always worth a look. 71 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,920 In years without a storm, they typically produce a respectable 10 to 15 meteors per hour around 72 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,840 the peak. 73 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:36,440 The Leonids peak this year on the night of November 17th through the early morning of 74 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:37,600 the 18th. 75 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:43,120 To catch the most meteors head outside around midnight, when the radiant point, that's the 76 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:48,040 spot in the sky where the meteors seem to come from, rises higher. 77 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:54,320 For the Leonids, the radiant is located in the constellation Leo, hence the name Leonids. 78 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:59,400 You don't need to find Leo to enjoy the show, but knowing where it is can help you orient 79 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:00,400 yourself. 80 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:05,720 You'll spot the constellation in the eastern part of the sky around midnight, rising higher 81 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:07,520 throughout the night. 82 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:12,960 To get the best view of the Leonids, try to find a dark, open spot away from city lights, 83 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,680 lay back, get comfortable, and give yourself time. 84 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,160 Meteor showers can be unpredictable, and the longer you watch, the better chance you have 85 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,520 of catching some truly memorable meteors. 86 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,480 If you're lucky, you might even catch a bright fireball or a meteor with a colorful trail, 87 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:34,400 thanks to the Leonids' high-speed encounters with our atmosphere. 88 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:39,640 One of the most famous Leonid storms happened in 1833. 89 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,560 Imagine thousands of meteors lighting up the sky all at once. 90 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:48,080 People across North America witnessed it, and some were so astonished they thought it was 91 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,120 the end of the world. 92 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:55,960 The 1833 Leonid storm is one of the events that sparked scientific interest in meteor 93 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:02,760 showers, marking a turning point in how people understood these celestial displays. 94 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:08,680 So as November rolls on, take a few minutes, especially around the 17th and 18th, to look 95 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:09,680 up. 96 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,920 Whether you see just a handful of meteors or catch a dozen in a few minutes, the Leonids 97 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:21,920 always bring a bit of cosmic wonder to our skies. 98 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:34,880 Today, we're exploring one of the most mysterious and energetic phenomena in space, cosmic rays. 99 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:41,360 These high-energy particles travel vast distances to reach us here on Earth, carrying clues 100 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,880 about some of the most powerful events in the universe. 101 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,640 But what exactly are cosmic rays? 102 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,080 Where do they come from? 103 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,760 And how do they affect us? 104 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:57,600 Cosmic rays are high-speed particles zipping through space at nearly the speed of light. 105 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:04,240 Despite the name ray, they aren't beams of light or radiation like x-rays or gamma rays. 106 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:10,640 Instead, cosmic rays are primarily made up of atomic nuclei, mostly protons, with some 107 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,120 heavier nuclei and electrons. 108 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,400 When these fast-moving particles hit Earth's atmosphere, they interact with the atmospheric 109 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:26,680 molecules creating showers of secondary particles that cascade down toward the surface. 110 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,120 Most cosmic rays are harmless by the time they reach Earth's surface, thanks to our 111 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:36,000 planet's atmosphere and magnetic field, which act as shields. 112 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,280 But their presence offers scientists valuable insights into high-energy processes happening 113 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,800 far beyond our solar system. 114 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:51,240 Cosmic rays originate from various sources, both inside and outside our galaxy. 115 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:57,840 They're usually grouped into three categories based on their energy and likely origin. 116 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:04,240 Solar cosmic rays are the lowest-energy cosmic rays generated by our Sun during solar flares 117 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,600 or coronal mass ejections. 118 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,560 While these are less energetic than other cosmic rays, they do pose a concern for astronauts 119 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:19,240 and satellites orbiting Earth as they can penetrate spacecraft and human tissue. 120 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:24,960 Galactic cosmic rays are mid-energy cosmic rays that come from sources within our Milky 121 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:31,480 Way, such as supernova, that's the explosive deaths of massive stars. 122 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:36,560 When the star goes supernova, it releases a tremendous amount of energy, accelerating 123 00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:40,080 particles to near-light speeds. 124 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:45,360 Galactic cosmic rays travel vast distances, sometimes thousands of light-years, across 125 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,240 the galaxy to reach us. 126 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:54,680 Extra-galactic cosmic rays are the most energetic and mysterious cosmic rays originating from 127 00:09:54,680 --> 00:09:57,360 outside our galaxy. 128 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:02,840 Some extra-galactic cosmic rays have energy levels millions of times higher than those 129 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,000 produced by supernova. 130 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,760 Scientists suspect that these particles may come from extremely energetic sources like 131 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:17,840 active galactic nuclei, that's supermassive black holes that are actively consuming matter, 132 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:23,960 to gamma ray bursts or other still-mysterious cosmic events. 133 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,960 When cosmic rays collide with particles in Earth's atmosphere, they create secondary 134 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,400 particles that shower down to the surface. 135 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:38,760 This interaction forms a continuous low-level stream of cosmic radiation known as background 136 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,520 radiation, which we encounter every day. 137 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:48,680 Though it's undetectable to human senses, cosmic rays play a subtle role in our environment. 138 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:53,680 Interestingly, some researchers believe that cosmic rays might even influence Earth's 139 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:58,960 weather patterns, particularly cloud formation, though this connection remains an area of 140 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,720 active research and debate. 141 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:07,440 If cosmic rays indeed play a role in cloud formation, they could have a slight but intriguing 142 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,680 impact on weather and climate. 143 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:16,800 Astronauts experience cosmic rays first-hand when they travel outside Earth's magnetic 144 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,000 shield. 145 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:24,640 High-energy cosmic rays can pass through spacecraft and even human tissue, which poses a health 146 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,840 risk on long missions. 147 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:33,200 One unusual effect astronauts report is seeing flashes of light when they close their eyes. 148 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:39,520 These flashes are caused by cosmic rays interacting with the retina or optic nerve, producing 149 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:44,300 a brief spark of light that astronauts perceive in their vision. 150 00:11:44,300 --> 00:11:49,240 The Apollo astronauts who ventured beyond Earth's magnetic protection reported this 151 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:55,600 phenomenon, and it's still experienced by those on the International Space Station. 152 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:00,840 For astronauts on future missions to Mars or beyond, exposure to cosmic rays will be 153 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,400 a significant concern. 154 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:08,720 Space agencies are exploring various shielding techniques, such as using magnetic fields or 155 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:17,160 specialized materials to reduce this exposure in safeguard astronauts on long-duration missions. 156 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:22,320 Cosmic rays can even make their presence known in photography and electronics. 157 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:28,400 High-energy cosmic rays can create artifacts on camera sensors, showing up as unexpected 158 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,720 bright spots or streaks in photos. 159 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:37,720 This effect is especially noticeable in space-based astrophotography, where the long exposure images 160 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,280 capture faint objects. 161 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:45,720 During these exposures, cosmic rays may hit the camera sensor leaving a visible trail. 162 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:51,480 To remove these cosmic ray artifacts, astronomers typically take multiple photos of the same 163 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:57,400 region and use software to identify and filter out any anomalies. 164 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:03,220 Cosmic rays don't only affect cameras in space, they can also disrupt sensitive electronics 165 00:13:03,220 --> 00:13:06,280 on satellites and even on Earth. 166 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:11,800 On rare occasions, a cosmic ray may interfere with a computer chip, causing a bit to flip 167 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,640 and leading to minor errors or glitches in data. 168 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:20,800 While this is rare at ground level, it's more common at high altitudes such as in airplanes 169 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,360 or on satellites, where there's less atmospheric shielding. 170 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:31,000 This effect, known as a single event upset, has been observed in both spacecraft and 171 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,000 sensitive ground-based electronics. 172 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:39,000 In fact, scientists take advantage of cosmic rays' interaction with sensors on certain 173 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:45,880 spacecraft using specialized detectors to study cosmic ray properties directly. 174 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:52,120 Instruments like the radiation assessment detector, RAD, on NASA's Curiosity rover 175 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:58,440 measure cosmic rays on Mars, helping us understand the radiation levels future astronauts might 176 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,200 face on the red planet. 177 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,880 Studying cosmic rays provides scientists with valuable insights into some of the universe's 178 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,240 most extreme events. 179 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:13,440 Their high energy levels carry information about powerful cosmic forces. 180 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:19,920 By analyzing the energy, composition, and arrival direction of cosmic rays, scientists 181 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:26,240 trace these particles back to their sources, studying phenomena like supernova, black holes, 182 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,160 and gamma ray bursts. 183 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:32,880 In fact, cosmic ray research has led to some surprising discoveries. 184 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:39,760 In the 1960s, scientists observed cosmic rays with energy far beyond what was thought possible, 185 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,360 challenging our understanding of particle physics. 186 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:49,200 These ultra-high energy cosmic rays have since pushed scientists to rethink the energy limits 187 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:55,360 of cosmic processes and search for possible sources in the distant universe. 188 00:14:55,360 --> 00:15:01,080 And here's a twist, cosmic rays may have even contributed to Earth's chemistry. 189 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:07,080 In a process called cosmic ray spallation, these high energy particles break apart atomic 190 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,760 nuclei when they collide with them, producing lighter elements. 191 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:16,400 It's believed this phenomenon helped create some of the lithium and beryllium present 192 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:22,640 on Earth, contributing to our planet's unique composition. 193 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,440 That's it for today's episode of Star Trails. 194 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,440 If you found this episode useful, please share it with a friend. 195 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:35,280 The easiest way to do that is by visiting our website, startrails.show, where you can 196 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:41,320 find all of our episodes including transcripts, night sky maps, and more. 197 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,480 Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the night sky. 198 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:55,480 Clear skies, everyone.