Please explain its wobble, if any,
2007-12-20 05:12:07 · 7 answers · asked by Caysie101 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Earth's axial tilt varies between 22.1° and 24.5° (but see below), with a 41,000-year period, and at present, the tilt is decreasing. In addition to this steady decrease, there are also much smaller short term (18.6 years) variations, known as nutation.
The 25,765 year precession referred to in answers above does not change the angle between the Earth's axis of rotation and the plane of its orbit, it only changes the direction of the tilt.
2007-12-20 05:45:30 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
nope, over the course of about 3000 years it will tilt between .01-.03 degrees, nothing that effects anybody in slightest nor is noticeable. good question though.
It's not really a wobble but more like a rolling of the earth in a vertical motion, up and down. it's just a defect in the shape of the earth and it's rotational patterns. after it does it's little shift over the years it just goes right back to where it was over the next 3000 years.
2007-12-20 05:17:19 · answer #2 · answered by psycho german 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bobbyp41 is exactly right. This very slow wobble, called precession, takes about 25,000 years to wobble once. No fears. That leads me to: in 12,500 years(half a wobble, or a wob), what part of the sky will our north polar axis be pointing?
The North star won't be our pole star any more...
2007-12-20 05:43:13 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas E 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, the Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees, not 21.5.
It is this tilt which gives us our seasons.
The axis does wobble... it is called 'precession'.
The movement is slow, at only 50.3 seconds of arc per year, or 1 degree every 71.6 years.
Think of it as a spinning top; when the top loses speed, it wobbles...
I hope this helped!
Clear Skies!
Bobby
2007-12-20 05:28:43 · answer #4 · answered by Bobby 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Nope, there is a slight wobble to it by about 0.03 degrees. it takes about 3000 years to complete the wobble.
2007-12-20 05:14:24 · answer #5 · answered by thelegendmstr 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
the MOON is destroying our precious rotations, we must destroy it in the next sumbillion years.
2007-12-20 07:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by vegetarianofdoom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is a wobble and it is said that we are soon to experience it. That is when the earth will adjust itself and supposedly, the earth as we know it will be drastically changed. I don't really know, we just have to wait and see, it's suppose to happen between now and 2012. Look it up on line to get the dope.
2007-12-20 05:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by darkdiva 6 · 0⤊ 10⤋