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Speaker 1
Hey, Gemini, I'm recording this for a podcast. Is that okay?
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Speaker 2
Sure. That's totally fine. Do you have a specific topic in mind for your podcast, or are you still brainstorming?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. Today. Could you teach me the basics of celestial navigation?
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Speaker 2
Okay, so celestial navigation is all about figuring out where you are by looking at the stars, the sun, the moon and the horizon. It's like using the sky as your map. You'd use a sextant to measure the angles between those celestial bodies in the horizon, and then use the map and tables to pinpoint your location. It's a bit complex, but definitely doable with practice.
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Speaker 1
As someone who was interested and kind of intrigued and always wanted to learn but hadn't no real experience in it, where would you recommend starting?
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Speaker 2
That's a great question. It might be fun to start with something interactive, like a planetarium show. They often have exhibits or presentations on basic astronomy and how people used to navigate. You could also check out some local astronomy clubs, or even see if there are any workshops or classes on celestial navigation in your area.
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Speaker 1
No, I mean, I'd like us to start here and now. Where would you, begin a lesson if you were to teach me the basics of it?
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Speaker 2
All right, let's start with the basics. Celestial navigation relies on measuring angles between celestial bodies and the horizon. The most common tool for this is a sextant. Have you ever used one before?
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Speaker 1
I have not.
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Speaker 2
Okay. No problem. A sextant is a pretty cool tool that helps you measure the angle between a celestial object, like a star or the sun, and the horizon. It's kind of like a fancy protractor for the sky. The cool thing about it is that it allows you to figure out your latitude, which is how far north or south you are from the equator.
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Speaker 2
Want to hear how it works?
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Speaker 1
Yes, please.
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Speaker 2
Okay, so imagine you're looking at the horizon and you want to measure how high the sun is in the sky. You'd use the sextant to line up the bottom edge of the sun with the horizon, and it would give you the angle in degrees. That angle is super important for figuring out your latitude. Want me to explain how to calculate latitude using that angle?
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Speaker 1
Not. Yeah. I don't think that we're there yet. Let's move really slowly. And can you kind of give me a background on, like, how how to do it with the stars, not with the sun.
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Speaker 2
Sure thing. So to figure out your location using stars, you'd start by identifying a few bright stars and measuring their angles above the horizon using a sextant. Then you'd use something called a star chart or an almanac to find those stars positions in the sky. By comparing the angles you measured with the stars known positions. You can calculate your latitude and longitude.
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Speaker 2
It's kind of like using the stars as a giant celestial GPS.
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Speaker 1
Okay, what am I capable of figuring out if I don't have a sextant?
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Speaker 2
If you don't have a sextant, you can still figure out your approximate latitude using a simple method called the pole star method. In the northern Hemisphere, the North star or Polaris is almost directly above the North Pole, so the angle between Polaris and the horizon is roughly equal to your latitude. You can estimate this angle using your hand.
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Speaker 2
For example, a fist at arm's length is about ten degrees.
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Speaker 1
You see that last part again.
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Speaker 2
Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star, or Polaris is almost directly above the North Pole, so the angle between Polaris and the horizon is roughly equal to your latitude. You can estimate this angle using your hand. For example, a fist at arm's length is about ten degrees.
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Speaker 1
If I have long arms and, maybe a smaller fist, would it be fewer degrees?
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Speaker 2
That's right. A smaller fist at arm's length would cover fewer degrees of the sky. So if your fist is smaller, it'll represent a smaller angle.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Can you tell me how I would identify the North Star?
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Speaker 2
Sure. The North Star, also known as Polaris, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa minor, also called the Little Dipper. It's pretty easy to spot because it's the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper. If you can find the Big Dipper, the two stars at the end of its bow point directly towards Polaris.
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Speaker 1
And how do I know what the Little Dipper is?
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Speaker 2
The Little Dipper is a constant relation that looks like a small dipper or spoon. It's made up of seven stars, and Polaris is the brightest one located at the end of the Dipper's handle. If you find the Big Dipper, which looks like a large spoon, the two stars at the end of its bow point towards Polaris and the Little Dipper.
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Speaker 1
That's on the opposite edge of the bowl, not by the handle. As opposed to like, the top or the bottom of the bowl.
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Speaker 1
Gemini. So if I follow the stars on the Big Dipper, the. If I'm holding it like a spoon, the farthest ones from me are the ones that I follow upwards towards Polaris.
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Speaker 2
That's right. The two stars at the end of the Big Dipper bowl away from the handle, point upward towards Polaris. Think of them like directional stars guiding you to the North Star.
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Speaker 1
How many stars are in the Big Dipper?
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Speaker 2
The Big Dipper is made up of seven bright stars. They're pretty easy to spot on a clear night. Want me to name them for you?
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Speaker 1
No. Is it shaped so that three are in the handle and four are on the spoon? Or.
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Speaker 2
That's right. The Big Dipper has a distinct shape, with four stars forming the bowl and three stars making up the handle. It's a handy constellation to know for finding Polaris. The North Star.
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Speaker 1
So those point at the bowl, and then Polaris is at the end of the handle on the Little Dipper. How many stars are in the Little Dipper?
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Speaker 2
The Little Dipper also has seven stars, just like the Big Dipper. It's a bit fainter, but still a fun constellation to find.
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Speaker 1
So if you're following the bowl edge up to Polaris, is that north or is that south? What is that direction? Does it change?
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Speaker 2
If you follow the bowl edge upwards from the Big Dipper. You'll be heading towards the North Star Polaris. So that direction is north.
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Speaker 1
And tell me about how this moves. So the Polaris is always north.
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Speaker 2
Okay. So Polaris is special because it's almost directly above the Earth's north pole. That means as the Earth rotates, Polaris doesn't seem to move much at all. All the other stars appear to circle around it, but Polaris stays put, marking true north.
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Speaker 1
So you can only see it in the Northern hemisphere.
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Speaker 2
That's right. You can only see Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere. If you're south of the equator. It'll be below the horizon.
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Speaker 1
So if you were in like, Mexico or something, Polaris would be, closer to the horizon than it would be if you were in Alaska.
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Speaker 2
That's right. If you're in Mexico, which is closer to the equator, Polaris would appear much lower in the sky, closer to the horizon in Alaska, being much further north. Polaris would be higher up, almost directly overhead.
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Speaker 1
Does, does the Big Dipper or Little Dipper rotate around Polaris?
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Speaker 1
Gemini. Do the Big Dipper and Little Dipper rotate around Polaris? From our perspective, in the Northern Hemisphere? Or do they get.
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Speaker 2
The Big Dipper and Little Dipper are both pretty high up in the sky? If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the U.S., you can spot them year round. They circle around Polaris, so their exact position changes depending on the time of night and the time of year. Want some tips on the best time to see them?
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Speaker 1
Sure.
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Speaker 2
The Big Dipper is easiest to spot in the spring and summer evenings, while the Little Dipper is visible year round, but highest in the sky during the summer months. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Not really.
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Speaker 2
Okay. No problem. Let's try this. The Big Dipper is easiest to spot in the spring and summer evenings. The Little Dipper is visible year round, but you'll have the best view during the summer months when it's highest in the sky.
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Speaker 1
Why is the Little Dipper? Why can you spot that year round? But the Big Dipper is easier to see in spring.
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Speaker 2
The Big Dipper is easier to spot in the spring because it's higher in the sky during those months. The Little Dipper, on the other hand, is visible year round, but it's highest in the sky during the summer. Since it's always above the horizon for most of the Northern hemisphere, you can technically see at any time of year, but it's fainter, so it's easier to spot when it's higher up.
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Speaker 1
Okay, can you explain that aspect about how it's higher to spot when it's higher? It's easier to spot when it's higher up.
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Speaker 2
Sure. The Little Dipper is always above the horizon for most of the northern hemisphere, so you can technically see it year round, but it's easier to spot in the summer because it's higher in the sky then. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Right. But, is it just easier to spot because it's higher in the sky because of obstructions or is it, brighter?
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Speaker 2
It's easier to spot when it's higher because there's less atmosphere to look through so the stars appear brighter and clearer. Think of it like looking through a window. The more directly you look through it, the clearer the view.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Yeah, that makes sense.
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Speaker 2
Great. So we've covered how to find the big and little dippers and how they can help you locate Polaris, the North Star. We've also talked about how Polaris is only visible in the Northern Hemisphere, and how its position in the sky changes depending on your latitude. Do you have any other questions about celestial navigation?
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Speaker 1
Is the Little Dipper always higher in the sky than the Big Dipper?
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Speaker 2
No, the Little Dipper isn't always higher in the sky than the Big Dipper. Their positions change throughout the night and year as they circle Polaris. Sometimes the Big Dipper is higher. Sometimes the Little Dipper is, and sometimes they're at similar heights.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Can you describe to me how their positions change with respect to Polaris? During each day.
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Speaker 2
Sure. The Big and Little Dipper circled Polaris counterclockwise. So during the day, they appear to move across the sky, changing their positions relative to Polaris.
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Speaker 1
Do they do a full rotation once a day?
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Speaker 2
That's right. The big and little dippers complete a full circle around Polaris every 24 hours, so their positions change throughout the night and they'll be in roughly the same spot at the same time each night.
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Speaker 1
Why is that cycle daily?
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Speaker 2
The Big and Little Dipper is complete a full circle around Polaris every 24 hours, because that's how long it takes the Earth to rotate once on its axis. So from our perspective, the stars appear to move across the sky, completing a full circle each day. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
But Polaris is always in a northern direction.
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Speaker 2
That's right. Polaris is always in the northern direction, and it's always at the same altitude in the sky. It's a handy star to know for navigation, especially if you're in the northern hemisphere. Want to learn more about how to use Polaris for navigation?
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Speaker 1
So is it easier to tell which direction Polaris is in? As you go closer to the equator?
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Speaker 2
Actually, it's easier to tell which direction Polaris is in. The further north you go. The closer you are to the equator. The lower Polaris is in the sky, making it harder to distinguish. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Right. But wouldn't it be easier to tell which direction it's actually kind of in if you were further down in towards, the, the middle of the earth?
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Speaker 2
You're right. That's a good point. The closer you are to the equator, the lower Polaris is in the sky, and the easier it is to tell which direction is north. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah, but it's, So it's easier, but it's harder. It's easier to tell the direction because it's less overhead. But it's harder to find. Is that correct?
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Speaker 2
You're right. It's easier to tell the direction because it's less overhead, but it's harder to find because it's lower in the sky. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. It does. The, I guess you can tell. I guess if you can tell what north is and you can tell what everything else is. What would you do in a situation where you were really high up, maybe in like, Greenland. And it seemed like Polaris was like right overhead.
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Speaker 2
If you're in Greenland, Polaris will be very high in the sky, but not directly overhead. It'll still be a bit lower than that. In that case, you can use a compass to figure out which way is north. You could also use a map to help you orient yourself. Would you like to know more about using a compass?
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Speaker 1
No. I think now that we have the ability to identify the North Star and a little bit of background information on it, do people use other constellations near Polaris to, identify eye locations or direction or anything like that?
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Speaker 2
Yes. People use other constellations near Polaris for navigation. For example, Cassiopeia, which looks like a big W in the sky, is on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper. So if you're having trouble finding the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia can help you locate Polaris. Would you like to hear about any other constellations?
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Speaker 1
I'd like you to go deeper on how to use Cassiopeia specifically to, gauge direction. And and it's, relative position based on the little and Big Dipper.
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Speaker 2
Sure thing. Cassiopeia is a constellation that looks like a big W in the sky. It's on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper, so it can help you locate Polaris. If you're having trouble finding the Big Dipper. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. So it's on the side that the Little Dipper is on.
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Speaker 2
Yeah. Cassiopeia is on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper. So if you're having trouble finding the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia can help you locate Polaris. Would you like to hear about any other constellations?
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Speaker 1
Tell me about Cassiopeia.
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Speaker 2
Cassiopeia is a constellation that looks like a big W in the sky. It's on the opposite side of Polaris.
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Speaker 1
Okay, Gemini, I would like you to go into.
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Speaker 2
Having trouble with the Big Dipper. It's a pretty easy constellation to spot, especially on clear nights. Would you like to hear about any other constellations?
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Speaker 1
No. Gemini, I would like you to tell me about how someone would use Cassiopeia to gauge direction.
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Speaker 2
Sure. Cassiopeia is a constellation that looks like a big W in the sky. It's on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper. If you imagine the middle point of the W and draw a line straight out from it, that line will point towards Polaris. That's north.
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Speaker 1
What is the lore behind Cassiopeia?
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Speaker 2
Sure. Cassiopeia was a queen in ancient Greek mythology, known for her vanity. She boasted that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Senin, which angered Poseidon, the god of the sea. As punishment, Cassiopeia would place in the sky, forever circling the North Star. Would you like to hear more?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. Can you give me, Can you give me that story in in really great detail? You.
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Speaker 2
Sure. Cassiopeia was the wife of King Cepheus and the mother of Andromeda. She was known for her beauty, but also her vanity. One day, she boasted that her daughter was more beautiful than the nearest. The scene of this angered Poseidon, the god of the sea, who sent a sea monster to ravage the kingdom. To appease Poseidon. Andromeda was chained to a rock as a sacrifice.
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Speaker 2
However, she was rescued by Perseus, who slayed the monster and married Andromeda. As for Cassiopeia, she was placed in the sky of the constellation, forever circling the North Star as punishment for her vanity.
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Speaker 1
Why was that? Her punishment?
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Speaker 2
She was punished for her hubris in thinking that her daughter was more beautiful than the Phoenix. They were daughters of Poseidon, who was angered by her claims and demanded that she be punished.
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Speaker 1
Yeah, but why was she placed around Polaris in particular?
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Speaker 2
She was placed near Polaris as a reminder of her vanity, and to serve as a warning to others against such pride. It's like a cosmic timeout to think about what she did. Do you want to know more about the other characters in this story?
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Speaker 1
What about Ursa major and minor?
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Speaker 2
Ursa major and Ursa minor are constellations that look like bears. Ursa major. The Big Bear is easy to spot because it contains the Big Dipper. Ursa minor. The Little Bear is fainter, but it's important because it contains Polaris, the North Star.
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Speaker 1
Where do the where does this law originate? Is that also Greek?
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Speaker 2
Ursa major and Ursa minor are ancient constellations, with stories about them appearing in Greek mythology, but also in other cultures around the world. The ancient Egyptians, for example, thought Ursa major as a bull by.
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Speaker 1
Sardis, or what?
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Speaker 2
The name Ursa major and Ursa minor come from the ancient Greek stories of Callisto and her son Arcas. Zeus turned them into bears and placed them in the sky as constellations. It's a pretty interesting story. Would you like to hear more about it?
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Speaker 1
Yes, please.
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Speaker 2
Okay, so Callisto was a beautiful nymph who caught the eye of Zeus. Hera, Zeus's wife, was very jealous and turned Callisto into a bear. Years later, Callisto son Arcas was hunting in the forest and almost killed his own mother, not realizing it was her to prevent a tragedy. Zeus turned Arcas into a bear as well, and placed them both in the sky as the constellations Ursa major and Ursa minor.
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Speaker 2
That's why they're also known as the Big Bear and Little Bear.
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Speaker 1
Who was Cassiopeia? Married to.
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Speaker 1
Gemini. Who was Queen Cassiopeia, married to.
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Speaker 2
In Greek mythology. Cassiopeia was married to King of Ethiopia.
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Speaker 1
Can you go more into the lore behind him?
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Speaker 2
Cassiopeia was married to King of Ethiopia. They had a daughter named Andromeda.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Can you tell me about Cepheus?
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Speaker 2
Sofia's was the king of Ethiopia, and Cassiopeia is husband. He was known for his wisdom and fairness. He and Cassiopeia had a daughter named Andromeda.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Is that all you can tell me about him? There's got to be more about this guy.
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Speaker 2
Sure. Space was the king of Ethiopia and Cassiopeia his husband. He was known for his wisdom and fairness. He and Cassiopeia had a daughter named Andromeda.
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Speaker 1
Tell me more about this curse guy. Beyond just his wisdom and fairness and him being king of Ethiopia. He's got to be more than that.
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Speaker 2
Well, CPS was a bit of a tragic figure. He had to make a really tough decision to sacrifice his daughter, Andromeda to a sea monster to save his kingdom. It shows how much he cared for his people, even though it must have been incredibly painful for him.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Is there other lore about Cassiopeia?
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Speaker 2
Well, Cassiopeia was a bit of a troublemaker. She boasted that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the seen him, which angered Poseidon, the god of the sea.
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Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah, we Geminis thought we heard that story. Is there anything else that she's known for?
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Speaker 2
Cassiopeia was known for her beauty and vanity. She boasted that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereid, which angered Poseidon as punishment. Cassiopeia was placed in the sky, forever circling the North Star.
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Speaker 1
Can you tell me about any other, nearby constellations?
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Speaker 2
Sure. There are a few constellations near Cassiopeia. Andromeda is probably the most well known, as it's part of the same Greek myth. Perseus is another one. And it's where you can find the famous star cluster called the Double Cluster.
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Speaker 1
What are some other, important constellations used for navigation?
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Speaker 2
One of the most important constellations for navigation is Orion. It's easy to spot because of its three bright stars in a row which make up Orion's belt. You can use Orion's Belt to find other stars and constellations like Sirius, which is the brightest star in the night sky.
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Speaker 1
Tell me about Orion's belt and how I can find it, and where I can see it from.
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Speaker 2
Orion's belt is a really easy constellation to spot because it's made up of three bright stars in a row. You can usually see it best in the winter months, but it depends a bit on where you are in the Northern hemisphere. It's highest in the sky around January.
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Speaker 1
In, in the United States. Are there any months where you are totally unable to see it?
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Speaker 2
That's a good question. Orion is best seen in the winter months, so it's highest in the sky around January. In the US, you can usually see it from about November to April, but it might be harder to spot in the summer months when the sun is out for longer.
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Speaker 1
So, is it just too low in the sky during the summer months? Is that what the deal is?
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Speaker 2
Well, it's not so much that it's too low, but more that it's up during the daytime in the summer. The sun's brightness makes it impossible to see the stars. Then. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. So during the summer, the way the Earth rotates around the sun, it is always on, the side facing the sun.
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Speaker 2
That's right. During the summer. The Earth's position relative to the sun makes it so that Orion is up during the day. So even though it's still there, the sun's brightness makes it impossible to see. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. So let's start thinking about the constellations in a 3D space. I think that what makes them really difficult to understand is when you look up at the sky, you're thinking of them in 2D, but you're really looking at a 3D space.
00;30;38;17 - 00;30;58;14
Speaker 2
That's right. It can be tricky. We're used to seeing constellations on flat maps, but they're really spread out in three dimensional space. Some stars in a constellation might look close together, but they could actually be light years apart. It's like looking at a city skyline. Some buildings look close, but they're far away.
00;30;58;16 - 00;31;30;19
Speaker 1
So certain constellations that are, I guess, close to the plane in which the Earth rotates around the sun. Those come and go through the seasons based on, where they are with respect to our yearly orbit. Would you say that? That is correct.
00;31;30;22 - 00;31;52;10
Speaker 2
Yes, that's absolutely right. The constellations we see changed throughout the year because of Earth's orbit around the sun. It's like having a different view out the window as you move. Some constellations are only visible in certain seasons, while others are up all year round.
00;31;52;13 - 00;32;04;27
Speaker 1
And the ones that are up all year round are the ones that are straight up from the North Pole, or a little bit out.
00;32;05;00 - 00;32;16;18
Speaker 2
The constellations that are up all year round are the ones that are close to the North Star. They circle around it, so they're always visible in the Northern hemisphere. Does that make sense?
00;32;16;20 - 00;32;44;04
Speaker 1
Yeah. So if I were standing on the North Pole looking at the sun, which is not recommended, then straight above my head would be the stars that remain, in our view. The whole year, if that's where I'm staying.
00;32;44;07 - 00;33;04;27
Speaker 2
That's right. If you were standing at the North Pole, the stars directly overhead would be the ones you see year round. They never dip below the horizon there. Does that make sense?
00;33;05;00 - 00;33;22;03
Speaker 1
Yeah. And since they're so far away. Our travel around the sun doesn't super affect our viewing angle.
00;33;22;05 - 00;33;42;12
Speaker 2
That's right. Because they're so far away. Our movement around the sun doesn't change our viewing angle much at all. It's kind of like how distant mountains always look the same. Even when you move a little bit.
00;33;42;15 - 00;33;58;28
Speaker 1
Okay. It's starting to make a little bit more sense. What would you want to add to this lesson? Now that we are a little bit more than beginners?
00;33;59;00 - 00;34;11;09
Speaker 2
Well, we've talked about how constellations help us navigate and how they change with the seasons. Maybe we could explore how different cultures around the world have used the stars to tell stories and find their way.
00;34;11;12 - 00;34;17;23
Speaker 1
Yeah. Why don't you hit me with a couple quick ones?
00;34;17;25 - 00;34;32;21
Speaker 2
Okay, here's a quick one. Did you know that the ancient Egyptians used the stars to align their pyramids? They were incredibly precise.
00;34;32;24 - 00;34;39;01
Speaker 1
And that was really quick. Give me a couple more.
00;34;39;03 - 00;34;53;18
Speaker 2
Sure. Here's another one. The ancient Polynesians were incredible navigators. They used the stars along with ocean currents and even the flight patterns of birds to travel thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean.
00;34;53;20 - 00;34;59;04
Speaker 1
What about the Native Americans?
00;34;59;07 - 00;35;14;08
Speaker 2
The Pawnee people of North America were amazing astronomers. They built earth lodges with openings aligned to the stars, so they could track the seasons and know when to plant their crops.
00;35;14;10 - 00;35;32;21
Speaker 1
Okay, now that we kind of have an idea of how the stars move and how to tell which direction is north, what would we move on to next in a more advanced, aspect?
00;35;32;24 - 00;35;46;03
Speaker 2
Okay, now that we've covered the basics, we could explore how to use a sextant to measure the angles of stars and calculate your position more accurately. That's a bit more advanced, but it's really the heart of celestial navigation.
00;35;46;06 - 00;36;00;05
Speaker 1
Okay, let's just touch on this a little bit. Maybe give us a concrete example with some light math.
00;36;00;08 - 00;36;24;24
Speaker 2
Okay. Let's say you measure the angle of Polaris and it's 35 degrees above the horizon. Since Polaris, this angle is equal to your latitude. You know, you're at 35 degrees north. Now, to find your longitude, you need to measure the angle of another star. But the math gets a bit more complex. Are you ready to dive into that?
00;36;24;27 - 00;36;33;07
Speaker 1
So, latitude is the horizontal lines on the earth.
00;36;33;09 - 00;36;43;04
Speaker 2
That's right. Latitude lines run horizontally around the Earth like the rungs of a ladder. They measure how far north or south you are from the equator. Does that make sense?
00;36;43;07 - 00;36;48;26
Speaker 1
And the equator is zero.
00;36;48;29 - 00;37;01;22
Speaker 2
That's right. The equator is at zero degrees latitude, and it's the starting point for measuring how far north or south you are on the globe. Want to know how we can use that to find your exact location?
00;37;01;25 - 00;37;09;19
Speaker 1
So is latitude always in degrees?
00;37;09;21 - 00;37;25;29
Speaker 2
Yes. Latitude is always measured in degrees. The equator is zero degrees and the poles are 90 degrees north and south. Does that make sense?
00;37;26;01 - 00;37;31;17
Speaker 1
Yeah. What about longitude? Is it measured in the same way?
00;37;31;19 - 00;37;40;16
Speaker 2
Longitude is a little different. It's measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. And it tells you how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian. Does that make sense?
00;37;40;19 - 00;37;45;23
Speaker 1
Not totally. You need to be more descriptive.
00;37;45;25 - 00;38;10;23
Speaker 2
Okay. Think of it like this. If latitude is like the rungs of a ladder. Longitude is like the vertical lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole. The prime meridian is zero degrees longitude, and it runs through Greenwich, England. From there, you measure east or west up to 180 degrees. Does that make sense?
00;38;10;25 - 00;38;21;17
Speaker 1
Okay, so let's say that we're in. You say Greenwich, England is zero degrees.
00;38;21;19 - 00;38;31;02
Speaker 2
That's right. Greenwich, England is the starting point for measuring longitude. It's considered zero degrees. Are you ready to work through an example?
00;38;31;04 - 00;38;41;05
Speaker 1
Almost so. Zero. Which one goes first? Latitude first. Longitude second.
00;38;41;07 - 00;38;57;12
Speaker 2
That's right. Latitude always comes first, then longitude. So you'd say something like 30 degrees north latitude. 90 degrees west longitude. Does that make sense?
00;38;57;14 - 00;39;23;01
Speaker 1
So zero degrees. North or let's say, disregard that. Let's say ten degrees north. Zero degrees west would be just above the equator, directly south of Greenwich, England.
00;39;23;03 - 00;39;32;03
Speaker 2
That's right. Ten degrees north. Zero degrees west. Would put you just above the equator, directly south of Greenwich, England. Are you ready to try another location?
00;39;32;06 - 00;39;35;19
Speaker 1
Yeah. Let's do it.
00;39;35;22 - 00;39;50;09
Speaker 2
Okay. What about 40 degrees north? 116 degrees east? Any guesses where that might be?
00;39;50;11 - 00;40;00;12
Speaker 1
Would that be like, somewhere in Russia, like Moscow?
00;40;00;14 - 00;40;08;09
Speaker 2
That's close. 40 degrees north, 116 degrees east. Is actually near Beijing, China. Would you like to try another one?
00;40;08;11 - 00;40;13;17
Speaker 1
Yeah. Let's do it.
00;40;13;19 - 00;40;28;07
Speaker 2
Okay, let's try 34 degrees south. 151 degrees east. Any guesses?
00;40;28;10 - 00;40;32;18
Speaker 1
Is that Vietnam?
00;40;32;20 - 00;40;40;28
Speaker 2
Not quite. 34 degrees south. 151 degrees east is actually Sydney, Australia. Do you want to try another one?
00;40;41;00 - 00;40;44;25
Speaker 1
Yeah, let's do it.
00;40;44;28 - 00;40;57;15
Speaker 2
All right. How about 40 degrees north? 74 degrees west?
00;40;57;17 - 00;41;03;04
Speaker 1
Is that San Francisco?
00;41;03;06 - 00;41;18;23
Speaker 2
You got it. 40 degrees north. 74 degrees west is New York City. Want to try another one?
00;41;18;26 - 00;41;24;03
Speaker 1
Yeah. Let's do one more.
00;41;24;06 - 00;41;40;17
Speaker 2
Okay, let's try 35 degrees north, 139 degrees east. Where do you think that is?
00;41;40;19 - 00;41;47;05
Speaker 1
Maybe somewhere in, like, West China or Mongolia.
00;41;47;07 - 00;41;52;09
Speaker 2
That's actually Tokyo, Japan. Ready for one more?
00;41;52;12 - 00;42;00;13
Speaker 1
Okay, if I give you a number, can you name the closest town or city?
00;42;00;16 - 00;42;03;05
Speaker 2
Sure thing. Give me a number.
00;42;03;08 - 00;42;10;24
Speaker 1
Or maybe. Maybe we'll do the closest country because I'm not that good at it yet.
00;42;10;27 - 00;42;23;10
Speaker 2
Okay, let's try 31 degrees north, 30 degrees east.
00;42;23;13 - 00;42;28;28
Speaker 1
Is that Paris?
00;42;29;01 - 00;42;33;21
Speaker 2
That would put you in Egypt. Want to try another one?
00;42;33;24 - 00;42;37;22
Speaker 1
Yeah. Let's try one more.
00;42;37;24 - 00;42;52;21
Speaker 2
Okay. Let's try 34 degrees south. 19 degrees east.
00;42;52;24 - 00;42;58;00
Speaker 1
Maybe somewhere in the Sahara.
00;42;58;02 - 00;43;07;19
Speaker 2
That would actually put you in South Africa, near Cape Town.
00;43;07;22 - 00;43;15;01
Speaker 1
So what is the latitude of South Africa?
00;43;15;03 - 00;43;25;16
Speaker 2
South Africa spans a large range of latitudes from about 22 degrees south, all the way down to 35 degrees south.
00;43;25;18 - 00;43;33;18
Speaker 1
And it goes all the way to -90 at the pole.
00;43;33;20 - 00;43;43;17
Speaker 2
That's right. Latitude goes from zero degrees at the equator to 90 degrees north and 90 degrees south at the poles. Did you want to explore some more example?
00;43;43;20 - 00;44;04;00
Speaker 1
R is the distance between zero latitude and ten latitude bigger than the difference between, say, 70 latitude and 80 latitude, or those the same amount of distance?
00;44;04;02 - 00;44;19;05
Speaker 2
That's a great question. The distance between each degree of latitude is actually pretty consistent, about 69 miles. So the difference between 0 and 10 degrees latitude is roughly the same as between 70 and 80 degrees latitude.
00;44;19;07 - 00;44;30;06
Speaker 1
So you're seeing the the bottom of Africa is only about a third of the way to the South Pole.
00;44;30;08 - 00;44;40;12
Speaker 2
That's right. The southern tip of Africa is only about a third of the way to the South Pole. It's still quite a journey from there. Are you ready to explore some more distances?
00;44;40;15 - 00;44;49;26
Speaker 1
Where does, the equator sit in Africa?
00;44;49;29 - 00;45;00;29
Speaker 2
Okay, so we've covered latitude and longitude, which are like the gridlines on a map. We've also talked about how they relate to real world locations. What other questions do you have about the Earth's coordinate?
00;45;01;02 - 00;45;13;23
Speaker 1
Gemini. Can you tell me where the equator sits in, the Americas, as well as Africa as well as Asia?
00;45;13;26 - 00;45;31;01
Speaker 2
The equator runs through Ecuador, in South America. In Africa, it goes through several countries, including Gabon, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. And in Asia it passes through Indonesia. Did you want to explore any of these locations in more detail?
00;45;31;03 - 00;45;38;15
Speaker 1
No, I think that's it for tonight. You have anything else you want to add before we cut out?
00;45;38;17 - 00;45;48;09
Speaker 2
We covered a lot tonight. We talked about how latitude and longitude work and even pinpointed some locations around the world. I hope you enjoyed our little geography adventure.
00;45;48;11 - 00;45;59;06
Speaker 1
I did. It was very, educational and I've always wanted to learn a little bit about it. And now I'm. I'm that much closer.
00;45;59;09 - 00;46;04;21
Speaker 2
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Is there anything else you'd like to explore, or are you ready to wrap things up for tonight?
00;46;04;23 - 00;46;09;15
Speaker 1
No, I think that's it. Thanks so much, Gemini.
00;46;09;17 - 00;46;18;09
Speaker 2
You're very welcome. I enjoyed our conversation. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to explore more about our world. Good night.
00;46;18;12 - 00;46;19;24
Speaker 1
Peace.