WEBVTT 00:36.102 --> 00:39.406 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% JAMES: WELCOME TO STAR GAZERS. 00:39.506 --> 00:43.143 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% I'M JAMES ALBURY, DIRECTOR OF THE KIKA SILVA PLA PLANETARIUM IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA. 00:43.243 --> 00:46.312 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: AND I'M DEAN REGAS, ASTRONOMER FROM THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY. 00:46.413 --> 00:50.750 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: IF YOU'VE WATCHED OUR SHOW OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR MOST FREQUENTLY 00:50.850 --> 00:52.752 align:left position:75%,start line:89% size:15% REFERENCED STAR PATTERNS IS THE BIG DIPPER. 00:52.852 --> 00:54.621 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% DEAN: THAT'S RIGHT, JAMES. 00:54.721 --> 00:57.924 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS ONE STAR PATTERN HAS BEEN CALLED DIFFERENT THINGS, DEPENDING 00:58.024 --> 01:00.060 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% ON WHERE AND WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED? 01:00.160 --> 01:02.095 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% JAMES: WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? 01:02.195 --> 01:03.797 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% LET'S SHOW YOU! 01:03.897 --> 01:07.434 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: OK, WE HAVE OUR SKIES SET FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER SUNSET, FACING NORTH. 01:07.534 --> 01:11.538 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% HIGH IN THE SKY YOU'LL SEE SEVEN BRIGHT STARS THAT FORM THE FAMILIAR PATTERN OF THE BIG 01:11.638 --> 01:12.939 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% DIPPER. 01:13.039 --> 01:17.310 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% THE FOUR STARS, DUBHE, MERAK, PHECDA AND MEGREZ MAKE THE BOWL. 01:17.410 --> 01:22.348 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% DEAN: RIGHT NEXT TO THEM ARE THE THREE STARS ALIOTH, MIZAR AND ALKAID. 01:22.449 --> 01:23.616 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% THEY MARK THE HANDLE. 01:23.716 --> 01:26.719 align:left position:72.5%,start line:89% size:17.5% THE BIG DIPPER HOWEVER IS NOT A CONSTELLATION. 01:26.820 --> 01:32.258 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% ASTRONOMERS REFER TO IT AS AN ASTERISM; WHICH IS A PATTERN OF BRIGHT STARS IN A MUCH LARGER 01:32.358 --> 01:33.693 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% CONSTELLATION. 01:33.793 --> 01:36.996 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: THE BIG DIPPER HAS HAD MANY ALIASES THROUGHOUT HISTORY. 01:37.097 --> 01:42.735 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% FOR EXAMPLE, THE ANCIENT MAYA SAW IT AS THE GIANT MACAW AND CELESTIAL TROUBLE MAKER, VUCUB-CAQUIX. 01:42.836 --> 01:48.775 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% ACCORDING TO LEGEND, HE WAS PLACED IN THE SKY BY THE HERO TWINS HUNAHPU AND XBALANQUE 01:48.875 --> 01:52.212 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% AFTER THE MACAW ARROGANTLY CLAIMED THAT HE WAS THE SUN AND THE MOON. 01:52.312 --> 01:57.317 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: IN CHINA, THE SEVEN STARS OF THE BIG DIPPER FORM THE RIGHT WALL OF THE PURPLE FORBIDDEN 01:57.417 --> 02:01.588 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% ENCLOSURE, A CELESTIAL BARRIER THAT SURROUNDS THE NORTH CELSTIAL POLE. 02:01.688 --> 02:06.659 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% JAMES: IN GERMANY, IT'S CALLED GROSER WAGEN (GRO ER WAGEN) OR THE GREAT WAGON, IN FINLAND 02:06.759 --> 02:09.429 align:left position:85%,start line:89% size:5% ITS CALLED THE OTAVA OR SALMON NET. 02:09.529 --> 02:14.067 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: IN IRELAND, IT'S A FARMERS PLOW, IN NORTHERN ENGLAND, IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED THE 02:14.167 --> 02:15.502 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% BUTCHER'S CLEAVER. 02:15.602 --> 02:19.072 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% IN FRANCE, IT'S A CASSEROLE AND IN HOLLAND, IT'S A SAUCE PAN. 02:19.172 --> 02:23.343 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% JAMES: MY FAVORITE REFERENCE TO THE BIG DIPPER COMES FROM AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY. 02:23.443 --> 02:27.580 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN WAS HELPING SLAVES TO ESCAPE, SHE USED A TECHNIQUE CALLED THE UNDERGROUND 02:27.680 --> 02:29.415 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% RAILROAD. 02:29.516 --> 02:32.485 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% FAMILIES WOULD ESCAPE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND TRAVEL TO SAFE HOUSES ON THEIR WAY 02:32.585 --> 02:36.623 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% NORTH; THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION BEING SOUTHERN CANADA, WHERE THERE WAS NO SLAVERY. 02:36.723 --> 02:42.061 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% DEAN: SINCE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME DIDN'T HAVE GPS DEVICES LIKE WE DO TODAY, OR READILY AVAILABLE 02:42.162 --> 02:47.934 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% COMPASSES TO FIND GEO-MAGNETIC NORTH, THEY RELIED ON THE STARS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE. 02:48.034 --> 02:52.272 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% BACK IN THE 19TH CENTURY, PEOPLE KNEW THE NIGHT SKY VERY WELL, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE 02:52.372 --> 02:54.440 align:left position:85%,start line:89% size:5% STREET LIGHTS TO WASH OUT THE STARS. 02:54.541 --> 02:58.778 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% JAMES: THEREFORE, TO MAINTAIN THEIR NORTHWARD BEARINGS, THEY TOLD EACH OTHER TO LOOK FOR 02:58.878 --> 03:01.714 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% THE DRINKING GOURD AND KEEP IT IN FRONT OF YOU. 03:01.814 --> 03:06.352 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% THAT PIECE OF ADVICE LED MANY PEOPLE TO FREEDOM, AND THEY EVEN MADE A TRAVELING SONG CALLED 03:06.452 --> 03:10.423 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD, WHERE THE LYRICS OF THE SONG MENTIONED MANY OF THE LANDMARKS 03:10.523 --> 03:15.361 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% TRAVELERS WOULD ENCOUNTER ON THEIR WAY TO THE OHIO RIVER; THE DESIGNATED PICK-UP POINT. 03:15.461 --> 03:20.800 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% DEAN: THE STARS OF THE BIG DIPPER ARE BETWEEN 75 AND 100 LIGHT YEARS FROM US, AND IF YOU 03:20.900 --> 03:25.171 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% HAVE REALLY GOOD EYESIGHT, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS VISUAL BINARIES IN THE 03:25.271 --> 03:27.106 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% NIGHT SKY. 03:27.207 --> 03:30.610 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% JAMES: RIGHT NEXT TO THE STAR MIZAR, THE STAR WHICH MARKS THE BEND IN THE BIG DIPPER'S HANDLE, 03:30.710 --> 03:35.181 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% YOU WILL SEE A SMALL, FAINT COMPANION STAR NAMED ALCOR. 03:35.281 --> 03:39.786 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% THESE TWO STARS ARE COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE HORSE AND RIDER AND WERE OFTEN USED AS A TEST 03:39.886 --> 03:41.588 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% OF A PERSONS EYESIGHT. 03:41.688 --> 03:45.291 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: SPEAKING OF EYESIGHT, IF YOU HAVE A TELESCOPE HANDY, THERE ARE TWO SPECTACULAR 03:45.391 --> 03:51.397 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% SPIRAL GALAXIES VISIBLE NEAR THE STAR ALKAID; WHICH IS AT THE END OF THE DIPPER'S HANDLE. 03:51.497 --> 03:56.469 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% M101, THE PINWHEEL GALAXY IS JUST TO THE NORTH OF ALKAID AND M51. 03:56.569 --> 03:59.839 align:left position:77.5%,start line:89% size:12.5% THE WHIRLPOOL GALAXY IS JUST TO ITS SOUTH. 03:59.939 --> 04:03.376 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% JAMES: NO CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIG DIPPER WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT SHOWING HOW YOU 04:03.476 --> 04:06.679 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% CAN FIND ITS NEIGHBORING CONSTELLATIONS USING ITS STARS. 04:06.779 --> 04:11.117 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN FIND POLARIS (THE NORTH STAR) BY DRAWING A STRAIGHT LINE FROM MERAK 04:11.217 --> 04:15.955 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% TO DUBHE AND CONTINUING THAT LINE APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES THE DISTANCE SPANNED BETWEEN MERAK 04:16.055 --> 04:17.824 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% AND DUBHE. 04:17.924 --> 04:21.527 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: YOU CAN FIND BOOTES THE HERDSMAN BY DRAWING AN ARC FROM ALIOTH, TO MIZAR AND THEN 04:21.628 --> 04:23.096 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% ALKAID. 04:23.196 --> 04:25.331 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% EVENTUALLY YOU WILL ENCOUNTER ARCTURUS, THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN BOOTES. 04:25.431 --> 04:29.769 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: YOU CAN FIND LEO THE LION DIRECTLY OVERHEAD THIS TIME OF YEAR BY DRAWING A LINE 04:29.869 --> 04:31.771 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% FROM PHECDA TO MEGREZ AND BEYOND. 04:31.871 --> 04:36.609 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: AND YOU CAN FIND THE GEMINI TWINS BY DRAWING A LINE FROM MEGREZ TO MERAK AND BEYOND. 04:36.709 --> 04:38.378 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% JAMES: SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. 04:38.478 --> 04:42.015 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% THE DRINKING GOURD, CASSEROLE, WAGON, PLOW, CLEAVER, MACAW, DIPPER IN ALL ITS GLORY. 04:42.115 --> 04:44.450 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: AND IT'S WAITING IN THE SKY JUST FOR YOU, WHEN YOU 04:44.550 --> 04:48.550 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% BOTH: KEEP LOOKING UP!