AWESOME ALTAIR
AWESOME ALTAIR

JAMES: WELCOME TO STAR GAZERS.
JAMES: WELCOME TO STAR GAZERS.

I'M JAMES ALBURY DIRECTOR OF THE KIKA SILVA PLA PLANETARIUM
I'M JAMES ALBURY DIRECTOR OF THE KIKA SILVA PLA PLANETARIUM

IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.

DEAN: AND I'M DEAN REGAS, ASTRONOMER FOR
DEAN: AND I'M DEAN REGAS, ASTRONOMER FOR

THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY.
THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY.

JAMES: ONE OF THE MAIN STAR PATTERNS OF SUMMER
JAMES: ONE OF THE MAIN STAR PATTERNS OF SUMMER

IS THE SUMMER TRIANGLE THAT RISES IN THE EAST AFTER DARK THIS MONTH.
IS THE SUMMER TRIANGLE THAT RISES IN THE EAST AFTER DARK THIS MONTH.

IT INCLUDES THE STARS VEGA, ALTAIR, AND DENEB.
IT INCLUDES THE STARS VEGA, ALTAIR, AND DENEB.

WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THE SUMMER TRIANGLE, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT ITS BRIGHTEST STAR, VEGA.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THE SUMMER TRIANGLE, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT ITS BRIGHTEST STAR, VEGA.

DEAN: VEGA MAY BE BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT,
DEAN: VEGA MAY BE BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT,

BUT IT CAN'T BEAT THE SECOND BRIGHTEST STAR OF THE SUMMER TRIANGLE,
BUT IT CAN'T BEAT THE SECOND BRIGHTEST STAR OF THE SUMMER TRIANGLE,

ALTAIR, WHEN IT COMES TO BEING WONDERFUL AND WEIRD.
ALTAIR, WHEN IT COMES TO BEING WONDERFUL AND WEIRD.

WONDERING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
WONDERING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

LET'S SHOW YOU
LET'S SHOW YOU

DEAN: O.K., WE HAVE OUR SKIES SET UP FOR ABOUT
DEAN: O.K., WE HAVE OUR SKIES SET UP FOR ABOUT

11PM FACING EAST.
11PM FACING EAST.

THERE YOU'LL SEE THE THREE BRIGHT STARS THAT MAKE UP THE POINTS OF THE SUMMER TRIANGLE,
THERE YOU'LL SEE THE THREE BRIGHT STARS THAT MAKE UP THE POINTS OF THE SUMMER TRIANGLE,

THE BRIGHTEST BEING VEGA IN LYRA THE HARP, THE SECOND BRIGHTEST ALTAIR IN AQUILA THE
THE BRIGHTEST BEING VEGA IN LYRA THE HARP, THE SECOND BRIGHTEST ALTAIR IN AQUILA THE

EAGLE AND THE THIRD BRIGHTEST, DENEB MARKING THE TAIL OF CYGNUS THE SWAN.
EAGLE AND THE THIRD BRIGHTEST, DENEB MARKING THE TAIL OF CYGNUS THE SWAN.

JAMES: NOW ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY STRANGE STARS
JAMES: NOW ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY STRANGE STARS

IN THE HEAVENS, ALTAIR IS ONE OF THE STRANGEST.
IN THE HEAVENS, ALTAIR IS ONE OF THE STRANGEST.

LOCATED ONLY 17 LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM US, (WHICH IS PRETTY CLOSE STAR-WISE),
LOCATED ONLY 17 LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM US, (WHICH IS PRETTY CLOSE STAR-WISE),

ALTAIR IS THE 12TH BRIGHTEST STAR WE CAN SEE FROM EARTH.
ALTAIR IS THE 12TH BRIGHTEST STAR WE CAN SEE FROM EARTH.

AND IF WE COMPARE IT TO OUR ALMOST MILLION MILE WIDE SUN,
AND IF WE COMPARE IT TO OUR ALMOST MILLION MILE WIDE SUN,

ALTAIR IS NOT ONLY 1 1/2 TIMES ITS SIZE,
ALTAIR IS NOT ONLY 1 1/2 TIMES ITS SIZE,

BUT SINCE ITS A HOT WHITE STAR, ALTAIR IS ACTUALLY
BUT SINCE ITS A HOT WHITE STAR, ALTAIR IS ACTUALLY

9 TIMES BRIGHTER THAN OUR COOLER YELLOW SUN.
9 TIMES BRIGHTER THAN OUR COOLER YELLOW SUN.

DEAN: BUT THE REALLY PECULIAR THING ABOUT ALTAIR
DEAN: BUT THE REALLY PECULIAR THING ABOUT ALTAIR

HAS TO DO WITH THE LENGTH OF ITS DAY.
HAS TO DO WITH THE LENGTH OF ITS DAY.

YOU SEE, A DAY FOR ANY STAR OR PLANET IS DEFINED AS
YOU SEE, A DAY FOR ANY STAR OR PLANET IS DEFINED AS

THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR IT TO MAKE ONE COMPLETE ROTATION
THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR IT TO MAKE ONE COMPLETE ROTATION

ON ITS AXIS.
ON ITS AXIS.

NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR EARTH MAKES ONE TURN ON ITS AXIS
NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR EARTH MAKES ONE TURN ON ITS AXIS

EVERY 24 HOURS.
EVERY 24 HOURS.

SO AN EARTH DAY IS 24 HOURS LONG.
SO AN EARTH DAY IS 24 HOURS LONG.

JAMES: OUR SUN HOWEVER,
JAMES: OUR SUN HOWEVER,

HAS A MUCH LONGER DAY BECAUSE IT MAKES ONE COMPLETE ROTATION
HAS A MUCH LONGER DAY BECAUSE IT MAKES ONE COMPLETE ROTATION

EVERY 25 1/2 EARTH DAYS.
EVERY 25 1/2 EARTH DAYS.

SO ONE DAY ON THE SUN IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 25 1/2 EARTH DAYS.
SO ONE DAY ON THE SUN IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 25 1/2 EARTH DAYS.

DEAN: SINCE OUR SUN IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE EARTH
DEAN: SINCE OUR SUN IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE EARTH

AND SPINS MUCH MORE SLOWLY,
AND SPINS MUCH MORE SLOWLY,

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT ALTAIR,
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT ALTAIR,

WHICH IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE SUN SHOULD TAKE LIKE A YEAR TO SPIN.
WHICH IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE SUN SHOULD TAKE LIKE A YEAR TO SPIN.

AH, YOU BETTER THINK AGAIN!
AH, YOU BETTER THINK AGAIN!

ALTAIR IS FULL OF SURPRISES!
ALTAIR IS FULL OF SURPRISES!

JAMES: ALTAIR DOES NOT TURN SLOWER THAN OUR SUN.
JAMES: ALTAIR DOES NOT TURN SLOWER THAN OUR SUN.

IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST ROTATING STARS WE
IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST ROTATING STARS WE

KNOW IN THE GALAXY.
KNOW IN THE GALAXY.

INDEED, ALTAIR'S ROTATIONAL SPEED AT IT'S EQUATOR IS 150 MILES PER SECOND -
INDEED, ALTAIR'S ROTATIONAL SPEED AT IT'S EQUATOR IS 150 MILES PER SECOND -

WHICH MEANS THAT ALTAIR ROTATES ONCE EVERY 9 HOURS!
WHICH MEANS THAT ALTAIR ROTATES ONCE EVERY 9 HOURS!

SO ONE ALTAIR DAY IS LESS THAN HALF AN EARTH DAY LONG.
SO ONE ALTAIR DAY IS LESS THAN HALF AN EARTH DAY LONG.

PLUS ITS INCREDIBLY FAST ROTATIONAL SPEED PRODUCES ONE VERY WEIRD EFFECT.
PLUS ITS INCREDIBLY FAST ROTATIONAL SPEED PRODUCES ONE VERY WEIRD EFFECT.

DEAN: THATS RIGHT, JAMES.
DEAN: THATS RIGHT, JAMES.

ALTAIR SPINS SO RAPIDLY THAT IT BULGES AROUND ITS EQUATOR...
ALTAIR SPINS SO RAPIDLY THAT IT BULGES AROUND ITS EQUATOR...

SO MUCH SO THAT ALTAIR IS TWICE AS WIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IT IS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
SO MUCH SO THAT ALTAIR IS TWICE AS WIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IT IS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

THIS GIVES ALTAIR THE DISTINCTION OF LOOKING LIKE A BLUE-WHITE M&M.
THIS GIVES ALTAIR THE DISTINCTION OF LOOKING LIKE A BLUE-WHITE M&M.

JAMES: HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LIKE M&MS?
JAMES: HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LIKE M&MS?

DEAN: I KNOW.
DEAN: I KNOW.

I KNOW.
I KNOW.

HERE, CATCH!
HERE, CATCH!

JAMES: NICE THROW!
JAMES: NICE THROW!

DEAN: NOW THAT JAMES IS FED, LETS SEE WHAT THE PLANETS
DEAN: NOW THAT JAMES IS FED, LETS SEE WHAT THE PLANETS

ARE DOING THIS WEEK.
ARE DOING THIS WEEK.

JAMES: OK, NOW WE'RE FACING TOWARD THE SOUTH-- SOUTHEAST
JAMES: OK, NOW WE'RE FACING TOWARD THE SOUTH-- SOUTHEAST

AFTER IT GETS GOOD AND DARK OUTSIDE.
AFTER IT GETS GOOD AND DARK OUTSIDE.

THERE ARE TWO PLANETS HANGING OUT HERE - ONE IS EASY TO SPOT
THERE ARE TWO PLANETS HANGING OUT HERE - ONE IS EASY TO SPOT

AND THE OTHER IS A LITTLE TRICKIER.
AND THE OTHER IS A LITTLE TRICKIER.

DEAN: THE EASY PLANET IS
DEAN: THE EASY PLANET IS

SO INCREDIBLY BRIGHT YOU WONT BE ABLE TO MISS IT.
SO INCREDIBLY BRIGHT YOU WONT BE ABLE TO MISS IT.

THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS JUPITER THE LARGEST PLANET IN THE
THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS JUPITER THE LARGEST PLANET IN THE

SOLAR SYSTEM.
SOLAR SYSTEM.

THIS MONTH YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE A LITTLE STAR BELOW IT.
THIS MONTH YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE A LITTLE STAR BELOW IT.

THATS MY FAVORITE STAR NAME TO SAY IN ALL ASTRONOMY.
THATS MY FAVORITE STAR NAME TO SAY IN ALL ASTRONOMY.

ITS ZUBENELGENUBI AND IT IS THE WESTERNMOST STAR IN THE CONSTELLATION LIBRA THE SCALES.
ITS ZUBENELGENUBI AND IT IS THE WESTERNMOST STAR IN THE CONSTELLATION LIBRA THE SCALES.

JAMES: THE MORE CHALLENGING PLANET TO IDENTIFY IS
JAMES: THE MORE CHALLENGING PLANET TO IDENTIFY IS

THE BRIGHT YELLOW STAR CLOSER TO ME.
THE BRIGHT YELLOW STAR CLOSER TO ME.

IT IS NO STAR AT ALL BUT IS,
IT IS NO STAR AT ALL BUT IS,

IN FACT, THE SECOND LARGEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM -
IN FACT, THE SECOND LARGEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM -

SATURN.
SATURN.

SATURN IS NESTLED AMONG THE STARS OF SAGITTARIUS HOWEVER YOURE MORE LIKELY
SATURN IS NESTLED AMONG THE STARS OF SAGITTARIUS HOWEVER YOURE MORE LIKELY

TO PICTURE THESE STARS LOOKING LIKE A TEA POT.
TO PICTURE THESE STARS LOOKING LIKE A TEA POT.

DEAN: SO GET OUTSIDE TO
DEAN: SO GET OUTSIDE TO

SEE ALTAIR, THE TOTALLY OUT-OF-SHAPE STAR OF THE SUMMER
SEE ALTAIR, THE TOTALLY OUT-OF-SHAPE STAR OF THE SUMMER

TRIANGLE…
TRIANGLE…

JAMES: AND LOOK TOWARD THE SOUTH TO FIND THE LARGEST
JAMES: AND LOOK TOWARD THE SOUTH TO FIND THE LARGEST

PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM - REALLY BRIGHT JUPITER TO THE RIGHT AND DIMMER
PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM - REALLY BRIGHT JUPITER TO THE RIGHT AND DIMMER

SATURN TO THE LEFT.
SATURN TO THE LEFT.

ALL: KEEP LOOKING UP!
ALL: KEEP LOOKING UP!