JAMES: HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHICH SEASON
IS THE LONGEST OR SHORTEST?
DEAN: MOST SCHOOL KIDS WOULD SAY SUMMER IS
THE SHORTEST BECAUSE IT JUST FLIES BY.
BUT IS THAT REALLY TRUE???
DEAN: EARTH'S ORBIT IS NOT A PERFECT CIRCLE,
BUT IS AN ELLIPSE.
SO EARTH ACTUALLY VARIES ITS DISTANCE FROM
THE SUN DURING THE YEAR.
WHEN IT'S CLOSER TO THE SUN, IT TRAVELS FASTER,
WHEN IT'S FARTHER AWAY IT TRAVELS SLOWER.
JAMES: AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE EARTH IS
CLOSEST TO THE SUN IN JANUARY AND TRAVELS
OVER 2,200 MILES PER HOUR FASTER THAN IT DOES
IN JULY.
SO WINTER IS 89 DAYS LONG, AND SUMMER IS 94
DAYS LONG.
THEREFORE, SUMMER IS THE LONGEST SEASON!
DEAN: ALSO, IF YOU GO OUTSIDE, ANY NIGHT THIS
WEEK, ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER SUNSET, AND FACE
SOUTHWEST, HIGH IN THE SKY YOU'LL SEE DAZZLINGLY-BRIGHT
VENUS AND JUST ABOVE IT AND TO THE LEFT, IS
THE RED PLANET MARS.
BOTH: KEEP LOOKING UP!