CELESTIAL MECHANICS CLASSICAL MECHANICS A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site precession A slow, periodic conical motion of the rotation axis of a spinning body, most familiar in the wobbling of a toy top or gyroscope. Earth's axis precesses, once around every 25,800 years, as a result of it not being perpendicular to the ecliptic (the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun). Being tipped over at about 23.5°, it is affected by gravitational perturbations from other bodies in the Solar System, including the Sun, Moon and planets. These bodies pull harder on the part of Earth's equatorial bulge nearest them than on the part farthest away, resulting in a torque that is the underlying cause of precession. The component of precession caused by the Sun and Moon is called lunisolar precession; that caused by the action of the planets is called planetary precession. The sum of lunisolar and planetary precession, known as general precession, results in a westward movement of the equinoxes (the nodes of the ecliptic) known as the precession of the equinoxes. This movement amounts to an average of about 50.3" per year – the so-called precession constant. Precession means that a number of different stars in the circumpolar regions of the celestial sphere serve as pole stars on a cyclical basis. Related categories    • CELESTIAL MECHANICS    • CLASSICAL MECHANICS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP