Precession of Equinoxes | March 15 - March 21
Season 44 Episode 11 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers #2021_11 1 minute Mar 15-21, 2021 “Precession of Equinoxes”
Star Gazers #2021_11 1 minute Mar 15-21, 2021 “Precession of Equinoxes”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation
Precession of Equinoxes | March 15 - March 21
Season 44 Episode 11 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers #2021_11 1 minute Mar 15-21, 2021 “Precession of Equinoxes”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Star Gazers
Star Gazers is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHey Vern it s the Equinox!
Thanks for watching Star Gazers -- and March 20 is the Vernal Equinox -- when our sun is directly over the equator and day and night are equal.
The Vernal Equinox is also known as the First Point of Aries, because the sun would pass through that constellation at this time of year, but that s not the case anymore!
Now it passes through Pisces!
This is because of PRECESSION.
Precession is the wobble of Earth s axis.
Like a top, we re flopping back and forth as we spin and orbit.
This wobble causes Earth s rotational axis to trace out a cone in the night sky!
Over time, the stars actually MOVE -- about a pinky on an outstretched arm, every 72 years.
So in 26,000 years Vega will be the North star not Polaris!
Traditional Vernal Equinox celebrations involve celebrations of fertility and spring, so enjoy yourself this week, and Keep looking up!
- Science and Nature
Explore scientific discoveries on television's most acclaimed science documentary series.
- Science and Nature
Follow lions, leopards and cheetahs day and night In Botswana’s wild Okavango Delta.
Support for PBS provided by:
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation