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How Earth Moves

Vsauce・15 minutes read

George Washington's birth date discrepancy is due to calendar changes by the British Empire, emphasizing the importance of aligning timekeeping systems with Earth's movements in space. The text delves into the complexities of Earth's motion, including its orbit around the Sun, leap days, and the planet's journey through the universe towards the Great Attractor.

Insights

  • George Washington's birth date discrepancy between February 22nd, 1732, and February 11th, 1730 1/2 highlights the historical challenges in accurately recording dates and the importance of primary sources like family Bibles.
  • The Earth's complex movement, involving spinning counterclockwise, orbiting the Sun while tilted, and traveling through the galaxy at high speeds, showcases the intricate dynamics that govern our planet's position in the universe and its journey towards the Great Attractor.

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Recent questions

  • How does the Earth's movement affect time?

    The Earth's movement involves spinning counterclockwise on its axis and revolving around the Sun in an elliptical orbit. This movement causes variations in solar time, leading to phenomena like the equation of time, which reconciles solar time with clock time due to the Earth's varying speed and tilt. Additionally, leap days are added every four years to align the calendar with the solar year and prevent seasonal drift caused by the Earth's orbit.

  • What is the significance of the Gregorian calendar?

    The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, corrected the seasonal misalignment of the Julian calendar by removing leap days. This adjustment aimed to better synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, ensuring that seasonal changes occur at consistent times. The Gregorian calendar is now the most widely used calendar system globally, reflecting the Earth's movement around the Sun more accurately.

  • How does the Earth's movement impact shadows?

    Meridians align from the North to South Poles, causing shadows to point towards the poles during local apparent solar noon. This phenomenon occurs due to the Earth's rotation on its axis, which influences the angle of sunlight hitting different locations on the planet. Understanding how shadows behave can provide insights into the Earth's movement and its relationship with the Sun.

  • What is Lahaina noon, and why is it significant?

    Lahaina noon refers to the moment when the subsolar point, directly below the Sun, crosses over Hawaii twice a year. This event is significant because during Lahaina noon, objects cast no shadows as the Sun is positioned directly overhead. It showcases the Earth's movement and the changing position of the Sun relative to different locations on the planet.

  • How does the Earth's movement through space impact our perception of time?

    Earth's movement through the universe at a speed of 2.1 million kilometers per hour towards the Great Attractor affects our perception of time. This movement, traced from the Milky Way towards the constellations of Leo and Virgo, showcases a century's worth of travel through space. Understanding Earth's motion through the universe provides context for our place in the cosmos and how time is influenced by celestial movements.

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Summary

00:00

"George Washington's Birthdate Mystery and Earth's Movement"

  • George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732, but his family Bible suggests February 11th, 1730 1/2.
  • In 1752, the British Empire experienced an unusual event where 11 days were omitted from the calendar.
  • The Earth's movement involves spinning counterclockwise and revolving around the Sun on a tilted plane.
  • Meridians align from North to South Poles, with shadows pointing towards the poles during local apparent solar noon.
  • The subsolar point, directly below the Sun, crosses over Hawaii twice a year during Lahaina noon.
  • The equation of time reconciles solar time with clock time due to Earth's varying speed and tilt.
  • Leap days are added every four years to align the calendar with the solar year, preventing seasonal drift.
  • The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, corrected the Julian calendar's seasonal misalignment by removing leap days.
  • Earth's movement includes spinning on its axis, orbiting the Sun, and drifting through the galaxy at varying speeds.
  • Ancient photons from the cosmic microwave background radiation, emitted after the universe became transparent, continue to reach Earth.

19:13

Earth's Journey Towards the Great Attractor

  • Earth is moving through the universe at a speed of 2.1 million kilometers per hour towards an unknown entity called the Great Attractor, with our journey traced from the Milky Way towards the constellations of Leo and Virgo, showcasing a century's worth of movement through space.
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