IT’S STAR GAZER’S BIRTHDAY - I THOUGHT# I’D DEBUNK THE FAVORITE MILLENNIAL PHRASE: “ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN” USING THE STARS!
HIT THE DARKNESS AT FOUR AM.
LOOK SOUTHEAST.# ORION’S SPARKLY BELT IS EASY TO SPOT.
IT POINTS TOWARD SIRIUS, THE DOG STAR OF CANIS MAJOR.
IN# ANCIENT TIMES THE EGYPTIANS REALIZED SIRIUS ROSE ABOUT THE SAME TIME EVERY YEAR, NEAR THE NILE# FLOOD!
THEY REALIZED A YEAR WAS - 365 DAYS.
BUT LATER, GREEK HIPPARCHUS REALIZED THE# EQUINOXES WERE OFF, SOMETHING SHIFTED!
ONE YEAR IS CLOSER TO 365 DAYS, SIX HOURS!
WE# NEEDED A QUADRENNIAL LEAP DAY TO FIX IT.
NOW TURN LEFT AND USE THE END OF THE# BIG DIPPER TO FIND, THE NORTH STAR.
BY WATCHING POLARIS AND THE CELESTIAL# NORTH POLE AND USING PRECISE STAR CHARTS: THE ROMANS REALIZED WE’D OVERCORRECTED# AND NEEDED TO SKIP LEAP YEARS!
WHEW!!
ANYWAY, WE’RE NOT IN THE EXACT SAME# PLACE EVERY TRIP - BUT IT’S CLOSE.
THANKS FOR WATCHING STAR GAZERS, I’M# TRACE DOMINGUEZ, KEEP LOOKIN’ UP!