Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains “The Sunset Illusion”

In this StarTalk Radio explainer video, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are exploring what’s really going on when you watch those beautiful sunrises and sunsets. To start, you’ll get a refresher on how the days of the week were named. Then, we discuss our pre-Copernican vocabulary to describe what’s going on in the sky. You’ll learn how refraction and our atmosphere impact sunrise and sunset. Neil tells us why, when you think you’re watching the sunset or sunrise, the sun is already past the point you re seeing. Neil also tells us how telescopes can calculate refractive effects when looking at stars. Then, you’ll learn why the equinox is not actually the day where there’s an equal amount of night and day. Lastly, find out how light would interact with Earth if it were a black hole. All that, plus, Neil and Chuck discuss other “ghosts of the sky.” Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio Subscribe to StarTalk: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Follow StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ 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