Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains the Equinox

What’s going on with the equinox? In this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice honor the equinox, breaking down why we have it and how it works.
What makes the two equinoxes special days of the year? You’ll learn the difference between spring versus fall equinox and what they mean in context with the summer and winter solstices. How does the equinox differ for different parts of the world? Is the equinox the same in Alaska as it is in Brazil?
Discover the reason why the equinox isn’t actually equal night and day. How does our own atmosphere impact our hours of sunlight? What is our definition of sunrise and sunset? Is there a real equinox we don’t celebrate? But most of all… where can we get that StarTalk sweatshirt???
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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!
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[@lizette87]

First half, I was like "yeah, they taught us that in like 5th grade". Second half, I was like "wow, I did not know most of this. Cool" Also, I'm laughing until I'm crying here. Beautiful sunrise? Yeah, it will be in about five minutes 😂 Neil has such a sweet laughter. This new subscriber sends love from Sweden ❤️

[@RayRay-zt7bj]

I honestly really despise ASMR but as a supporter of Neil deGrasse Tyson and as an American, I send my love back to you.

[@anytimefishingandoutdoors6983]

Star talk is easily my favourite youtube drop every time it happens. You guys have great chemistry. Keep us learning fellers.

[@michaeldonnelly4100]

As an elementary and middle school science teacher I appreciate your delivery of information. Sometimes I share your videos, sometimes I make my own age appropriate edits. At the core though, your lessons are perfect! Thank you Neil and Chuck.

[@ukietheoverlord3159]

Neil & Chuck are my favorite 2 guys on KZbin for the past year!

[@alainmaitre2069]

Me too . And UG . KZbin UG Krishnamurti false perception . KZbin Best of UG .

[@grantgardson]

Second to Anton Petrov of course, for he is the most wonderful person.

[@theurbanroninjaguar5655]

ME TOO... LOVE DEM... Greets from a Fan from Vienna/Austria.. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@derekhigh8281]

@1776 Infowars it’s just his opinion man 😁

[@comala27]

Chuck is annoying wish niel would do this by himself..

[@manos6590]

If I was watching the sunset with a woman and she "ruined the mood" by dropping that, I'd be on one knee proposing to her.

[@midhunshirish]

And technically that's not ruining the mood... it's making you happy and shocked.

[@theojam2]

I would not propose at that time but it made make me happy to be around my current wife. I could talk about conceptual things like this with her.

[@Synthwave89]

@@theojam2 lucky guy

[@yiannisevangelou6246]

Oh my gosh!! I only discovered this channel a couple of weeks ago and it's like I've opened the door to the cosmos! Also, nice touch to combine science with comedy. I never understood why people are not interested about their surroundings...

[@queenofthousandmoons2231]

I love Neil and Chuck!!!! I have to listen atleast twice and then go back and research!!! Love science!!! Thank you Star Talk!!!

[@bethphilipsen5099]

Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains everything so well 💕

[@gweilospur5877]

Speaking as a Science teacher, he needs images and preferably a model to make it clear to more people.

[@dfvpinto]

Just love to hear these two talking, they're awsome and we learn so much with Neil. Thank you.

[@haguen1996]

love their synergy

[@blooplip]

Love y’all so much!!! Thank you for always keepin it real real!!!

[@mholtebeck]

Lived my childhood in Singapore, which is on the equator, Sunset at 7pm, and rose at 7am every single day.

[@gweilospur5877]

Lived there too. Clean, law abiding, efficient, boring place!

[@vedagirishankar59]

Possibly the funniest episode ever, I really enjoy (& learn) heaps every time I listen to your podcast, thanks Neil and Chuck.

[@rexrocker1268]

I had no idea the sun refracted in the atmosphere that much, I though maybe a few seconds at most, not minutes. It’s also cool how the moon and sun look so much larger close to the horizon, but they aren’t any larger in the sky we just have things to make it appear larger, like trees or a mountain, or just the ground or sea as a point of reference.

[@mpoulin]

Dr. Tyson says, "the equator has the least interesting changes in the sunrises and sunsets in the world". I say, "the most consistent sunrises and sunsets in the world are at the equator." I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of guy. I always love StarTalk videos!

[@isatousarr7044]

An equinox is a moment when the Sun crosses the Earth's equator, appearing directly above it. This occurs twice a year, around March 20th and September 23rd. On these days, both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience roughly equal amounts of daylight and nighttime.

[@lucas.hahn2027]

I’ve been reading Neil’s new Cosmic Queries book! Truly amazing!

[@jett3197]

just ordered mine!

[@HellYeahImIrish]

I thought the logo on Chuck's shirt. Was a pair of pants with shoes lol. I didn't see the rocket until Neil said it.

[@tannertuner]

We are supposed to have the longest daylight hours in June, but living in South Georgia it has always seemed like the daylight keeps getting longer into August before it starts getting dark earlier again

[@robrussell5329]

Your days are in fact, getting shorter after the longest day - June 21st. On Sept 24, in Savanah, GA, daylight is 12h 4m. But that is 2 hours, 10 minutes SHORTER than it was on Jun 21.

[@rafaelsiqueiraamaralsantos1541]

I've heard Brazil? I'm brazilian n' love Neil & Chuck talking about everything on science perspective.

[@haywardgarner4850]

My favorite story about the equinox egg myth is from last year when I shared it with my first grade students to challenge them to see if science supported the claim, and one young lady did the research to debunk the myth in a video she shared explaining what was really happening.

[@cosmiclaziness]

I've learned more from Neil than I have in school

[@ericjohnson6665]

Thank you for that explanation! I had been noticing that discrepancy for the last year or so. Now it makes perfect sense! 👍

[@mrs.morris5506]

Lol! Chuck got clowned on that Equinox gym joke. 😝

[@KaitKait]

Yesss, more content!

[@luciaprayogo8469]

Correct.. I live in Indonesia.. Sunrise around 6AM and Sunset around 6PM.. That's how we got nice Sunset beaches on some Islands.. ❤ normally Equinox is the hpttest days of the year, not this March though.. Always rainy Prof..

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Well, actually... These episodes are awesome, guys. Keep 'em coming!

[@christsagkas8385]

Awesome show, congratulations to both of you from a Greek fan.

[@niceman3318]

Explainer videos are my favorite , we love you neil

[@aleamontgomery1997]

Happy Ostara! Chuck and Neil are like the uncle and nephew that sit around talking about the cosmos.

[@charlesbradford6738]

Good explanation. To be more detailed, we have "Astronomical Twilight", "Nautical Twilight", and "Civil Twilight". These factor in things such as open seas or mountains.

[@theautodan7095]

Don't forget Stephanie Meyer's Twilight...

[@wintersknight9411]

I love the bite-sized clips like this.

[@janicepedroli7403]

Happy New Year both of you.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

Commenting in February (Northern Hemisphere). Things are shutting down for another major snowstorm this evening. I can't wait for the next Equinox!

[@thomasgaliana6288]

I love your show. Keep it going!

[@mattwestergard4160]

A brilliant mind who is able to explain these concepts to my dumb brain. Thank you NDT.

[@williamjones7163]

Point of Information: Easter is determined as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal (Spring) Equanox. That is why Easter floats around the calendar so much.

[@alulimc834]

We are about to observe the winter equinox :)

[@briankissooncastro]

Chuck is a very clever comedian.

[@fajevstarlin]

Please talk about water memory.

[@RetNemmoc555]

Sorely needed. Even some of my science-y friends fall for that one.

[@ferbluesy]

Great channel. New suscriber from Spain.

[@kellyberry4173]

WELL DONE!!! Thank you!

[@verbal2u]

That logo is hilarious. My wife asked if it is someone bent over lol

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

O. F. F. F. S. Now, isn't there a name for an ambiguous figure like that?

[@hello123s]

She is used to bending over.. She must be earning well

[@masknhoodie6296]

This episode was a vibe

[@crisstryna_mma1622]

Chuckles back in the house!!!!!!!

[@Egwuinogs]

Im touched

[@Kongodiantotela]

Wow ! Every time NDT speaks, he blows my mind.

[@attractedtothemetallikemag9385]

We love you chuck and Neil

[@stevenbaumann8692]

Excellent! Can you do one on “no shadow day”?

[@isaackitone]

On the equator we get no shadow at exactly noon on equinox.

[@carultch]

It depends on your latitude on when "no shadow day" is. At the Tropic of Cancer, it is the June solstice that this happens. At the Tropic of Capricorn, it is the December solstice. At the equator, it is the two equinoxes. It happens when the sun passes directly overhead, such that a vertical object will cast no shadow. You will still get a shadow beneath an object, just not a shadow cast to the side of any object. Eratosthenes' well experiment happened on "no shadow day" in Syene (now Aswan Egypt).

[@leftcoaster67]

Careful, you might upset flat earthers.

[@stevenbaumann8692]

@@leftcoaster67 ha! Yep 😂👍🏻

[@stevenbaumann8692]

@@carultch I would just love to see a video on it. As someone who is north of the 45th, it never happens. At least we get the Aurora.

[@Jediknight404]

yeah and here in utah, because of the mountains the sun takes about an extra hour to rise, depending on where in the valley you are.

[@Veterane]

These are one of the only things I look fwd too any more.

[@Fernando-fr5cu]

Happy Naw Ruz everyone!!!!

[@navroze92]

thank you

[@RojanskiTV]

👍🏼

[@mjsltni4938]

🌺🌺🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@matayga2000]

Neil, when you explain, can you add some visual assistance of your explanations please? Its easier for me to wrap my head around these concepts because I'm a visual learner. Thanks!!!!

[@carultch]

Do an image search on some of the terms they use. You'll find plenty of visuals that have already been made.

[@matayga2000]

@@carultch that's obvious! I'm asking that they incorporate it in their videos as an assistive tool when they're editing them. Embedded visuals are super helpful to many of us. Thanks for your input.

[@bjones6747]

Great information 👍🏿

[@aariapoor]

Also known as Iranian New Year / Norouz 🌷

[@sandrataylor2323]

Hey Neil, how about selling a Star Talk coffee mug. I'd buy my whole family one. Thanks for considering this.

[@TheFaarf]

There exists one at their patreon.

[@georgesos]

That thing with the point on the sun was nice

[@JH-eb5bk]

Thank you Chuck and Neil for your show and happy Persian new year (spring equinox)....

[@Nivola1953]

I’m leaving about 150km north of the Equator, one thing you forgot to mention Neil, on the equinox at noon the shadows are the smallest because the sun is right on top of our heads, and in the Northern summer the sun will be north of us at noon

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

I also told him in a comment, which I can no longer find, that there is NOT 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark at the equator... ALL YEAR LONG! Where are you at 150km north? That is about 1.5 degrees N latitude, a little less. I lived at 8 north for two years. The amount of actual daylight changed over the year by about 2 hours!!!! Maybe more. You only have an equal amount of light and dark WHEN the sun is directly overhead. Which varies from 23 N to 23 S latitude. You should be quite aware of that. Seeing the sun to the NORTH of me during April to August was interesting.

[@findingtoolpurpose6195]

Chichen Itza during the equinox is on my bucket list

[@jagpreetsingh83]

You should use graphics/animations to explain. I love it otherwise. Thank you so much for such great content.

[@manpreetbhattee9732]

MAN! I LOVE CHUCK and obviously Neil too.

[@Lanhoj]

*StarTalk sing-along* @6:35 ... 🎶 *Nants ingonyama bagithi baba* *Sithi uhm ingonyama* *Nants ingonyama bagithi baba* *Sithi uhhmm ingonyama* *Ingonyama* *Siyo Nqoba* *Ingonyama* *Ingonyama nengw' enamabala* 🎶 ...

[@jeanabsonturel268]

Wonderful work guys

[@daviddavies5322]

Thanks for explaining the exonox. Didn't know. It's huge oil.

[@pc-yx9uh]

i remember broom balancing on the equinox. thanks facebook.

[@thermospice6617]

Quick question- What would the reaction between a magnatar and a black hole be? What the magnestism effect the black hole? Or would it just be spaggetified like other stars?

[@felicityc]

what about NOTHING ESCAPES do u not understand

[@thermospice6617]

Yes, but a black hole has properties that emit radiation and other core properties. A magnatar, which is a version of a very dense neutron star, can emit star quakes. This quakes are huge magnetic EMP’s. This makes me wonder- how does the EMP effect the black hole, it’s radiation, or its gravitational pull. Keep in mind black holes come from stars, and other stars have been seen to effected by magnatars.

[@heaslyben]

I think, if what we care about is the experience of being illuminated by the sun, then the subjective, local definitions of sunrise and sunset seem fine! It's not like it's not light out!

[@_Jude-St.-Francis_]

Ah the legendary duo!

[@trafalgard.waterlaw7330]

Loved you in Stargate: Atlantis

[@livetsteamrob]

there's an interesting fact about the equinox and solstice that I wish they'd covered here and that although the equinox has the same length of day and night it also has the greatest change in the length of the the day and night and the solstice has the longest or shortest day, the length of the day changes by the least amount. the amount of change in the length the the day when plotted on a graph will produce a sine wave. Because the equinox in the time of greatest change it's around then that the weather is at it's most stormy and unsettled and because the solstice is the time of least change that the weather is normally more settled

[@RayRay-zt7bj]

It was funny when Chuck said he loves the Equinox gym. The first thing I thought of was the album by Styx.

[@edpliskin4088]

Great work Dr. Tyson

[@benjaminmellish]

Bruv I need that Hoodie ASAP!

[@johntracy72]

March equinox is on March 19 this year.

[@derrickwebster7879]

Q: Where do I buy like works of the artists displayed behind you? A: High school raffles and Garage sales

[@zAwstrich]

What do you guys think about entropy and syntropy ?

[@alainmaitre2069]

Springtime yes . Belgium .

[@corylacamp5762]

Can you do a episode on magnetic propulsion and the concept of efficient space travel?

[@bajanmaster2958]

There is actually something interesting about the movement over the sun in the tropics, sometimes the sun is to the north sometimes it's orientated to the south and on a few days it's directly overhead.

[@MrSean03839]

That's why we call that area the equator. Two times per year the sun will be directly overheard.

[@bajanmaster2958]

@@MrSean03839 not just the equator, the entire area of the tropics and it actually has some practical consequences.

[@theconqueringram5295]

Keep looking up.

[@lanatrzczka]

Re the egg balancing thing... in the 90's my totally non-science mom balanced an egg on the fireplace mantle on the equinox out of curiosity. She then left it there for months! Wouldn't let anyone disturb it. Around July or so we were all like, "You know that's certainly spoiled inside, right?" She said, "Of course, but I think I proved those magazines wrong!" Go mom!

[@nicolau2]

Don't mind me. I'm just bookmarking a great life lesson from NGT: 5:36

[@anthonymaestas4863]

Well, I guess I am not very smart. But the way he described it seems like the time of the sunrise of about 5 min be off set by the time of the sun sent instead of added together. Also, the reason we say sun rise is because its the initially breaking of the plane of the horizon. Sun set is when it when the plane has completely covered. Watching the sun rise is where a person does not see the sun to it crowning or becoming in view. Sunset is where we go from seeing the sun to not seeing it. That is why we use those terms for those observations. For what he is describing would need a new set of terms for the common or new understanding.

[@patrik5428]

I have a question about one of the videos you posted 9months ago about "big numbers", i am sure you remember it, If we would write down 10 to the power of google, down. And each particle of universe would contain (one) zero, you said we would run out of particles! But if universe is expanding all the time, shouldn't the universe eventually be greater than 10 to the power of google (it is a humongous number, but still limited one)?

[@aleshofastora440]

Even Neil deGrasse can't explain this complex warframe

[@cajunqueen5125]

haha, these two are a great pair. Luv it.

[@molochsorcery4357]

Kudos & blessings to ALL teachers/educators out there, yet can you imagine just how much better you'd understand science with Neil teaching? That is IF you cold even get into his class for the fact everyone would want to be in it.

[@OvershadowENT]

I want that hoodie

[@tionneanddavid]

Perfectly balance as all things should be.

[@blackdragongametech912]

Sorry to say, that merch is too expensive. :-( but i love the show and love you Niel Sir..

[@kostobip5]

hi guys, im start watching you in this week and i start loving u. Neil make science interesting and Chuck make it funny. Nice combo :)... But i need to tell you that you should watch your previous video because you had already explained it. So Chuck, dont be suprised....u already know it :P

[@sherrylennondewitt7557]

Amazing design!

[@ShawnRavenfire]

One thing you didn't consider when calculating sunrise-sunset times is elevation. Someone on top of a mountain might see sunlight earlier than someone living in a valley. If you're surrounded by mountains or tall buildings, you might not see the sun rise or set at all.

[@Main17ssss]

At my place, Uganda it always rains on morning equinox

[@jamsistired]

Dr. Tyson, how far could you scale down the universe while still having gravity, and other processes that happen in the universe? Would gravity stop holding atmospheres and rock together at a certain point?

[@craighelliwell5433]

I think I've seen every episode. Is there something like this you can suggest

[@12lippylucy]

Another great show :)

[@Yogamannn]

Chuck is daaa bestt

[@rossnederveld2026]

I believe that on both Equinoxes, the sun rises due East and sets due West everywhere on earth.

[@kitcanyon658]

yes, that's true

[@Chris-op7yt]

it's also not instant full light or darkness and lower or higher elevations on land at both macroscopic and local locations (of say house) will affect light levels and apparent sunlight/darkness hours. for those in cities constantly lit up by artificial light, there is no real darkness, unless you wear sleep mask