HAPPY NEW YEAR!
IT S THE SPRING 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.
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE EQUINOX MARKED THE START OF A NEW YEAR.
MAKES SENSE, SPRING MEANS REBIRTH, FERTILITY, NEW LIFE!
THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO THE SUN WOULD RISE IN THE CONSTELLATION ARIES ON THE VERNAL EQUINOX, BUT TODAY IT RISES IN PISCES!
THIS IS BECAUSE OF PRECES-SION.
PRECESSION IS THE WOBBLE OF EARTH S AXIS.
LIKE A TOP, WE RE FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH AS WE SPIN AND ORBIT.
OVER TIME, THE STARS ACTUALLY MOVE -- ABOUT A PINKY ON AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, EVERY 72 YEARS.
IN 26,000 YEARS VEGA WILL BE THE NORTH STAR NOT PO-LARIS!
WILD!
TO FIND VEGA, HIT THE SKIES JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT THIS WEEK AND LOOK NORTHEAST, VEGA S BLUISH HUE WILL BE ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST.
ENJOY YOUR NEW SPRING, I M TRACE, KEEP LOOKING UP!