Astronomy - Ch. 10: Mercury (24 of 42) The Precession of Mercury

In this video I will explain the precession of Mercury, why it happens, observed precession, calculated precession, and why it'll take 250,000 years for Mercury to precess all the way back to it original starting position.

Next video in this series can be seen at:

[KulkarniPrashant]

One of the best explanation for precession of perihelion of Mercury, love it! Thank you Mr. Biezen

[pharaoh]

Michel, I am always impressed with your ability to convey with such clarity, especially when so many others attempt the same, and fail terribly. You have a gift.

[ZoroElric]

always concise and straight to the point i love it!

[aditparwal]

Very clearly explained .
Wonderful

ADITYA

[hewaa.babany]

I was searching for this answer for many years, but I got it from you.
Great explanation.
Thanks so much

[bruzote]

I cannot find anywhere on the internet a simple PHYSICALLY INTUITIVE model as to how relativistic effects cause precession. Every source either engages in a statement of the conclusion (like this very video) by simply declaring that a small amount of precession exists due to relativistic effeccts, or the source will go into deep mathematical explanations that are far beyond the capability of a typical person with an undergraduate education in math and science. There must an explanation somewhere. Declaring that time slows down does NOT fulfill the explanation. HOW does a slowing of time cause precession forward? After all, those who are NOT experts in relativity can imagine reasons for causing a NEGATIVE precession or no precession. I am very disappointed in educators who appear to have NO knowledge as to why the relativistic precession happens, so they wave their hands. At some point, has not some educator asked a relativity expert for a story that can explain the effect to the masses. For example, a spinning star causes frame dragging. That is a relativistic effect that many people who are not experts can nonetheless "understand". How does the precession effect work?

[-ne]

Hi professor Michel . I noticed that north and south pole are tilted and have 23.5 degrees related to ground or horizon when using sky map applications. but in globe maps and illustrations the tilt and poles are shown related to zenith. Am I right ?

[josemanuelmoca]

There is an other explanation for precession of perihelion of Mercury.