2007-12-28 13:42:04 · 6 answers · asked by nightowl 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
There are several, slightly different concepts of both 'day' and 'year', so a lot of care is needed here.
A sidereal day is the length of time for one rotation of the earth relative to the stars (from one passage of a star past the meridian to the next).
A solar day is the length of time for one rotation of the earth relative to the sun (from one passage of the sun past the meridian to the next). This is what is usually meant by the term 'a day'.
A solar day is 24 hours. A sidereal day is 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds. The difference is due to the revolution of the earth around the sun.
There are 365.2564 solar days in a sidereal year, which is the time for the earth/sun to be in the same position relative to the stars. This will round up to give 365.26 days (the answer to your question). There are 366.26 sidereal days in a sidereal year. The extra sidereal day comes from the extra rotation needed as the earth goes around the sun.
Other concepts of a year:
Tropical year (from one equinox to the next) is 365.2422 solar days. The difference between this and a sidereal year is due to the 'toplike' precession of the equinoxes. This would round *down* to 365.24 days in a year.
An anomalistic year is 365.2596 solar days and is the time between two perihelia on the earth.
So, the real answer to your question depends on which concept of 'day' and which concept of 'year' you mean.
2007-12-28 13:59:11 · answer #1 · answered by mathematician 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I like correct English. Next time, say you like precision. As an actual word, it is strongly preferred over preciseness.
2007-12-28 16:01:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
365.242199 days (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds).
And it's "precision," not "preciseness."
2007-12-28 13:50:57 · answer #3 · answered by ktrb 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
365.26
Of course, leap year takes care of the extra .25
However, to fix the other .01, a leap year is missed every 100 years- i.e. there was no leap year in 1900 or 2000.
2007-12-28 13:52:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The precise and exact answer is for you to get a life.
GEEZE!! Some people are so anal.
2007-12-28 13:51:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
yeah I guessed. and guess what me guess was.........
2007-12-28 13:49:22 · answer #6 · answered by Mercury 2010 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋