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Colorado Edition: A Moment To Look Up

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on December 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart.
NASA
/
Bill Ingalls
Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on December 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart.

Today on Colorado Edition: As the first COVID-19 vaccines are distributed, we examine the logistics of inoculating staff and residents of long-term care facilities. We learn more about how lithium-ion batteries can help power a renewable energy future – but mining for the metal may be cause for environmental concern across the Mountain West. As more people than ever are choosing national parks to recharge during the pandemic, we look at the noisy toll that’s taking on those resources. And we’ll explore a rare celestial conjunction that will be at its peak on Dec. 21.

Today’s guests include: Michael de Yoanna, KUNC investigative reporter; Carla Johns with the Fiske Planetarium; and Jacob Job with the Sound and Light Ecology Team at Colorado State University. This episode also features reporting from Noah Glick of the Mountain West News Bureau.

Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman. We get production help from Rae Solomon (@raedear1) and Adam Rayes. KUNC news director Brian Larson is our executive producer. Web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai.

Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in this episode was provided by Forest Robots:

  • A Path Among the Woods

And by Blue Dot Sessions:

  • Charcoal Lines

KUNC's Colorado Edition is a news magazine taking an in-depth look at the issues and culture of Northern Colorado. It's available on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m., or Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.

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