WEBVTT 00:20.587 --> 00:24.524 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% JAMES: WELCOME TO STAR GAZERS. 00:24.624 --> 00:28.361 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% I'M JAMES ALBURY, DIRECTOR OF THE KIKA SILVA PLA PLANETARIUM IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA. 00:28.461 --> 00:31.498 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: AND I'M DEAN REGAS, ASTRONOMER FROM THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY. 00:31.598 --> 00:37.137 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% JAMES: NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 20TH IS THE VERNAL EQUINOX, ALSO KNOWN AS THE OFFICIAL SPRING 00:37.237 --> 00:38.972 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% OF THE LEAF DAY. 00:39.072 --> 00:43.510 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% DEAN: MEANWHILE NEXT WEEK SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH MARKS THE OFFICIAL SPRING OF THE YEAR DAY. 00:43.610 --> 00:47.781 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: PLUS, WE HAVE A REALLY COOL PAIRING OF PLANETS AND OUR MOON ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 00:47.881 --> 00:48.782 align:left position:42.5%,start line:89% size:47.5% 18TH. 00:48.882 --> 00:50.250 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? 00:50.350 --> 00:51.551 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% LET'S SHOW YOU! 00:51.651 --> 00:55.188 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY WE CALL SPRING, SPRING? 00:55.288 --> 01:00.460 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% WELL, THAT WORD SPRING IS SIMPLY SHORT FOR THE PHRASES 'SPRING OF THE LEAF' AND 'SPRING 01:00.560 --> 01:02.328 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% OF THE YEAR'. 01:02.429 --> 01:05.665 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% NOW SPRING OF THE LEAF IS PRETTY OBVIOUS BECAUSE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR LEAVES LITERALLY 01:05.765 --> 01:11.104 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% DO SPRING UP OUT OF BRANCHES AND GRASS SPRINGS UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL 01:11.204 --> 01:12.172 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% SPRING, SPRING. 01:12.272 --> 01:14.808 align:left position:75%,start line:89% size:15% DEAN: BUT WHAT DOES SPRING OF THE YEAR MEAN? 01:14.908 --> 01:21.014 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BEFORE 1752 IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA, THE NEW YEAR OFFICIALLY BEGAN 01:21.114 --> 01:23.583 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% WHEN SPRING BEGAN, ON MARCH 25TH. 01:23.683 --> 01:29.722 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% OR TO PUT IT QUITE SIMPLY, THE NEW YEAR SPRANG UP AT THE SAME TIME THE LEAVES AND GRASS DID. 01:29.823 --> 01:34.294 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: IN FACT, WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON AND BEN FRANKLIN WERE YOUNG, THEY AND ALL THE 01:34.394 --> 01:38.798 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% OTHER AMERICAN COLONISTS WISHED EACH OTHER HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY SPRING ON THE SAME 01:38.898 --> 01:40.667 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% DAY ON MARCH 25TH. 01:40.767 --> 01:46.539 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20% HOWEVER, WHEN THE ENGLISH CALENDAR WAS REFORMED, PARLIAMENT DECLARED THAT STARTING IN 1752, 01:46.639 --> 01:51.411 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% THE NEW YEAR WOULD NO LONGER BEGIN IN MARCH, BUT WOULD BE CELEBRATED ON JANUARY 1ST, A 01:51.511 --> 01:54.447 align:left position:77.5%,start line:89% size:12.5% TRADITION BEGUN BY THE ROMANS IN 153 B.C. 01:54.547 --> 01:59.752 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: NOW BOTH SPRINGS ARE RELATED TO THE VERNAL EQUINOX, WHICH HAPPENS THIS YEAR ON 01:59.853 --> 02:03.022 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% TUESDAY, MARCH 20TH AT 12:16 P.M. 02:03.123 --> 02:04.357 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. 02:04.457 --> 02:07.760 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% JAMES: BUT WHAT DOES THE TERM VERNAL EQUINOX REALLY MEAN? 02:07.861 --> 02:12.098 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IS REALLY AN ASTRONOMICAL EVENT, WHICH MARKS 02:12.198 --> 02:16.169 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% ONE OF THE TWO DAYS OF THE YEAR WHEN OUR SUN IS SMACK DAB ON THE CELESTIAL EQUATOR. 02:16.269 --> 02:19.105 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: THE OTHER DAY BEING THE FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN. 02:19.205 --> 02:24.377 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN SEPTEMBER, WE CALL IT THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX AND WHEN IT HAPPENS IN 02:24.477 --> 02:26.446 align:left position:82.5%,start line:89% size:7.5% MARCH, WE CALL IT THE VERNAL EQUINOX. 02:26.546 --> 02:31.818 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: MOST PEOPLE TODAY DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THE SUN AND ITS MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE 02:31.918 --> 02:36.589 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% SEASONS LIKE OUR ANCESTORS DID, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH THE SUN CHANGE ITS PLACE 02:36.689 --> 02:39.826 align:left position:67.5%,start line:89% size:22.5% ON THE HORIZON EVERY DAY FROM EQUINOX TO EQUINOX. 02:39.926 --> 02:43.796 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DEAN: STARTING THIS WEEK, IF YOU MAKE NOTE OF WHERE THE SUN RISES AND SETS ON THE HORIZON 02:43.897 --> 02:49.135 align:left position:65%,start line:83% size:25% EACH DAY USING LANDMARKS (LIKE TREES OR BUILDINGS), YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE SUN WILL RISE JUST 02:49.235 --> 02:53.840 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% A LITTLE BIT FARTHER NORTH OF EAST EACH DAY AND WILL SET A LITTLE BIT FARTHER NORTH OF 02:53.940 --> 02:55.708 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% WEST EACH DAY. 02:55.808 --> 03:00.380 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% JAMES: THE SUN WILL CONTINUE MOVING NORTHWARD WEEK AFTER WEEK UNTIL JUNE 21ST, THE FIRST 03:00.480 --> 03:05.185 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DAY OF SUMMER (THE SUMMER SOLSTICE), WHEN IT WILL RISE ITS FARTHEST NORTH OF EAST AND 03:05.285 --> 03:07.187 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SET ITS FARTHEST NORTH OF WEST. 03:07.287 --> 03:12.325 align:left position:67.5%,start line:83% size:22.5% DEAN: AFTER WHICH IT WILL START TO MOVE SOUTHWARD WEEK AFTER WEEK UNTIL ONCE AGAIN IT WILL RISE 03:12.425 --> 03:18.031 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% DUE EAST AND SET DUE WEST ON THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX, THE FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN IN SEPTEMBER. 03:18.131 --> 03:21.301 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% JAMES: ALRIGHT, LET S SEE WHAT THE PLANETS ARE DOING ON THE EQUINOX. 03:21.401 --> 03:26.773 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% JAMES: OK, WE VE GOT OUR SKIES SET TO SUNSET ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 18TH. 03:26.873 --> 03:31.311 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% IF YOU LOOK DUE WEST JUST AFTER SUNSET, NEAR THE HORIZON YOU LL SEE THE SLIMMEST CRESCENT 03:31.411 --> 03:33.379 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% MOON YOU VE PROBABLY EVER SEEN. 03:33.479 --> 03:37.350 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% IT MAY BE TOUGH TO SPOT DUE TO THE GLARE OF THE SUN, BUT WE HAVE A WAY OF HELPING YOU 03:37.450 --> 03:39.152 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% FIND IT. 03:39.252 --> 03:42.522 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% DEAN: JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE CRESCENT MOON, YOU LL SEE TWO BRIGHT STAR-LIKE OBJECTS. 03:42.622 --> 03:47.393 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5% THE BRIGHTER ONE IS THE DAZZLING PLANET VENUS AND THE DIMMER ONE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT IS 03:47.493 --> 03:49.128 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% THE PLANET MERCURY. 03:49.229 --> 03:53.166 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% JAMES: IF YOU LOOK AT EITHER PLANET THROUGH A TELESCOPE, YOU RE IN FOR A TREAT. 03:53.266 --> 03:56.502 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% SINCE VENUS IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM FROM US RIGHT NOW, WE LL BE 03:56.603 --> 03:58.871 align:left position:82.5%,start line:89% size:7.5% ABLE TO SEE MOST OF ITS DAYTIME SIDE. 03:58.972 --> 04:01.074 align:left position:72.5%,start line:89% size:17.5% THEREFORE, VENUS WILL BE IN THE GIBBOUS PHASE. 04:01.174 --> 04:06.246 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% DEAN: MERCURY ON THE OTHER HAND IS ABOUT TO PASS BETWEEN US AND THE SUN, SO WE LL BE 04:06.346 --> 04:08.214 align:left position:87.5%,start line:89% size:2.5% SEEING MORE OF ITS NIGHTTIME SIDE. 04:08.314 --> 04:12.685 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5% SO, IF YOU LOOK AT IT THROUGH A TELESCOPE, MERCURY WILL BE IN A CRESCENT PHASE. 04:12.785 --> 04:14.621 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% JAMES: WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT! 04:14.721 --> 04:17.190 align:left position:67.5%,start line:89% size:22.5% A SPRING TIME PAIRING OF ASTRONOMICAL PROPORTIONS! 04:17.290 --> 04:21.094 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15% DEAN: SO HAPPY SPRING OF THE LEAF AND HAPPY OLD FASHIONED NEW YEAR. 04:21.194 --> 04:25.194 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% BOTH: KEEP LOOKING UP!