If you visit Washington, D.C., during either the spring or fall equinox, I recommend taking the opportunity to wake up early and watch the sunrise over the National Mall. On the days surrounding each equinox, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the sun to rise in a position along the horizon that illuminates the Lincoln Memorial’s central chamber, which usually remains dark throughout the year.
In anticipation of this year’s spring equinox on March 20, I was curious to see if federal legislation has discussed this annual transition from winter to spring. It turns out that several bills and resolutions have been introduced involving this topic, ranging from designating the vernal (spring) equinox as Earth Day to recognizing Nowruz, a holiday celebrating the Persian new year.
During my research, I found other legislation involving celestial events, including an 1875 statute addressing the transit of Venus (Jan. 22, 1875, ch. 23, 18 Stat. 303). Documenting the transit of Venus, which occurs when “Venus is seen in silhouette against the bright face of the Sun,” was a major event used by 18th and 19th century astronomers to determine the distance between the Earth and the Sun. With these initial measurements, astronomers could more accurately determine the size of the solar system, which was a significant advancement in the fields of physics and astronomy.
If you want to learn more, here are some Library resources on topics where law and science intersect:
- “Looking into the Past: Space Telescopes and the Law of Outer Space,” from In Custodia Legis
- “Canada Extends Criminal Law Jurisdiction to the Moon,” from In Custodia Legis
- “The Legality of Time Travel,” from In Custodia Legis
- “Transit of Venus: The Unsung Heroes,” from Inside Adams
- “The 1874 Transit of Venus in the News,” from Headlines & Heroes
- “What is the Transit of Venus?” from the Transit of Venus March collection
- Finding Our Place in the Cosmos: From Galileo to Sagan and Beyond
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