I have sat down and plotted the Earth's movement relative to the Sun over one year showing its path to a centre line representing a distance of about 4,260,000,000 miles, sub-divided into 12 equal months. According to my calculations I have noticed that the periods between crossing the suns path in front and behind, and behind and in front are different. Going from in front of the Sun to behind it takes approximately 5.5 months and from behind to in front takes 6.5 months approximately. Is this correct?
2007-07-07 23:45:34 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
no, i don't think that's right. the earth's distance from the sun varies from about 91 to 95 million miles - the circumference of the orbit then is about 600 million miles, not 4260 million miles - where did you get that figure from anyway?
2007-07-07 23:59:41 · answer #1 · answered by vorenhutz 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a web site that provides authoritative and accurate answers to the orbits of things in the solar system. Just set up the web interface like this:
Ephemeris Type: Vectors
Target Body: Earth geocenter
Coordinate Origin: Sun
Time span: 2007-01-01 to 2008-01-01, Step = 1 d
Display/Output: plain text
It will provide a bunch of information about the Earth, and the XYZ position and velocity of the Earth, and also the light-time, range, and range-rate.
2007-07-08 09:07:54 · answer #2 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree, Knownow't.
Your measurement are taken from the Equator, am I right?? Oh, wait a minute. Don't tell me you made all those observations from a point north or south of the Equator?
You timed out exactly to the minute (I wouldn't expect "second") When the Sun rose and set each day and did your shadow castings to mark the shortest day and the longest day, didn't you?
You come across so much like that laboratory scientist on the "Simpsons" -- you know, "According to my calculations"...
You probably need new batteries for your calculator. "According to MY calculations", the yearly trip around the Sun covers about 585 million miles, not 4.26 billion miles.
"Oh, I must have misplaced a decimal...."
2007-07-08 07:05:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are right, the speed of the earth is not constant. It moves slower in summer and faster in winter. The reason is the elliptic orbit. We are closest to the sun in January and farthest from the sun in July. So if you count the days from spring equinox to autumn equinox you have three days more than from autumn equinox to spring equinox. The difference is not half a month. It's 10% of a month.
2007-07-08 07:01:38 · answer #4 · answered by Ernst S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, because the Earths orbit is elliptical.
The Earth is at its nearest point to the Sun in early January.
2007-07-08 06:56:35 · answer #5 · answered by Ian L 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you say so....I thought I was bad sitting at this computer answering dumb questions....but sitting looking at the sun for 12 months...man you take the biscuit....
2007-07-08 06:49:48 · answer #6 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ok Your right" so Just stop thinking about it.
Peace' God Bless
((((HOST SOLOMON))))
2007-07-08 06:57:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Shut up.Muhahahahahaha.LOL.Loser.....................i don't care.
2007-07-08 06:55:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i don't know.
2007-07-08 08:16:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋