Spring Equinox 2023! | March 13 - March 19
Season 46 Episode 11 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STGZ303 March 13-19, 2023 “Spring Equinox 2023!”
Star Gazers STGZ303 March 13-19, 2023 “Spring Equinox 2023!”
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? 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
Spring Equinox 2023! | March 13 - March 19
Season 46 Episode 11 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STGZ303 March 13-19, 2023 “Spring Equinox 2023!”
Problems with Closed Captions? 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.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHI STAR GAZERS, TRACE HERE MARCH 20 IS THE VERNAL EQUINOX -- WHEN OUR SUN IS DIRECTLY OVER THE EQUATOR AND DAY AND NIGHT ARE EQUAL.
IN ANCIENT TIMES THE SUN PASSED THROUGH ARIES IN EARLY SPRING, BUT TODAY IT PASSES THROUGH PISCES BECAUSE OF PRECESSION.
PRECESSION IS THE WOBBLE OF EARTH S AXIS.
THIS WOBBLE CAUSES EARTH S ROTATIONAL AXIS TO SHIFT.
OVER TIME THIS SHIFT CAUSES THE CONSTELLATIONS TO CHANGE POSITION IN THE SKY ABOUT A PINKY ON AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, EVERY 72 YEARS.
THIS ADDS UP!
LEMME SHOW YOU FACE NORTH ANY NIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT AND LOOK FOR THE BIG DIPPER ASTERISM.
THE TWO END STARS, DUBHE AND MERAK FORM AN ARROW TO POLARIS THE CURRENT NORTH STAR.
BUT IN 13,000 YEARS OUR NORTH STAR WILL BE VEGA!
TO FIND VEGA USE THE OTHER TWO BOWL STARS OF THE BIG DIPPER MAKE AN ARROW TWICE AS LONG; THAT BRIGHT STAR IS VEGA!
THE SKY IS ETERNAL, AND ALWAYS CHANGING JUST LIKE SPRING!
KEEP LOOKING UP!
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Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation