Neil deGrasse Tyson's Guide to Skywatching

607,534
0
Published 2024-04-02
What does AM or PM mean? Neil deGrasse Tyson walk comedian Chuck Nice through the different lines in the sky, their meanings, and how they are used in science. How do you use the coordinates for a specific star?

Discover the sun’s path along the sky, how far it travels every day, and what Chuck thought AM and PM meant. We explore using right ascension and declination to create coordinates for stars. How does Earth’s precession get factored into this coordinate system? Learn about lines like the meridian, celestial equator, ecliptic, and the galactic equator. Plus, find out why the Zodiac signs are off an entire constellation.

Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus

Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: amzn.to/3PL0NFn

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/startalkradio

FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:
Twitter: twitter.com/startalkradio
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StarTalk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/startalk

About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson

00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - Ante Meridian & Post Meridian
2:32 - The Solar Ecliptic
5:38 - How Does The Sky’s Coordinate System Factor in Precession?
10:03 - Impact on Zodiac Signs
13:00 - In Closing: The Finish Line

All Comments (21)
  • @StarTalk
    Do you have a favorite constellation?
  • @AccessCode101
    Thank you for hiring graphic designers and animators. These videos are so much better this way.
  • I grew up in Africa, my mother who is now 99 and still strong and sharp used to tell me about these lines but in my mother language. It is amazing to hear Neil explaining things so nicely.
  • @thomashuber8496
    I really enjoy the chemistry between NDT and Chuck Nice. While Chuck is a comedian, not a scientist, he is intelligent and well informed, making his comedic observations amusing and informative. He needs to perform in Portland Oregon.
  • @helpus1456
    Ante meridian and post meridian. Committing them to memory. Thank you
  • for a large part of my life AM has meant "After mid-night", and PM "Past mid-Day"
  • I recently came back from camping with friends out at the Drakensberg mountains. I felt like an expert amongst my peers helping them identify constellations and some stars and planets. I got all that knowledge from this incredible channel.
  • As a person who recently started doing Astrophotography, this is made things click. Thanks Neil and Chuck! StarTalk is the best educational channel on Youtube.
  • @ParduzTube
    In italian, "noon" is "mezzogiorno" (literally mid-day) which comes from the latin "meridies"... which originates also the word "meridian". The italian word for Afternoon is "pomeriggio", which is a contraption of "post-meridian". This makes me a bit less surprise when Neil explain these stuffs, as it is part of my everyday language :)
  • Okay, Neil, I'm a astronomy enthusiast, but your explanation about the lines on the sky REALLY astounded me. I learned a lot, and i am very thankful ... :)
  • @john.carlson23
    I have so memories as a kid of my Dad taking my brother and me out at night to find constellations. Such great memories!
  • Loved it. I'm 66 and have learned a whole lot of new stuff! Right ascension and declination, precession, galactic equator – fascinating, thank you guys for the facts and the laughter!
  • @Arnica_Burdock
    Neil is so endearing, I can't help grinning watching him explain things.
  • I will have to watch this multiple times to understand the concepts. Loved it.
  • The addition of editors/ clever editing, animations... its taking the channel in a direction that I really like. I can see a full on animation with animated versions of Neil and Lord Chuck immersed in an ''explainer'' universe of outer space worlds
  • @watchingdanny
    Fun fact: Grand Central Station in NYC has all 13 Zodiac constellations on the ceiling of the main entrance.
  • @ANS_11419
    I’ve got to know more stuff from this channel than all the school days from kindergarten to highschool farewell. Interesting stuff!!
  • @felicias-s4018
    😮"worst than pluto for you..." 😂😂😂😂😂 As always gentlemen, thank you!
  • @greenjelly01
    "Them royalties dried up!" 😂 what wit and timing!