If Earth is tilted, why is Polaris always above the same spot?
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Why is Polaris, the North Star, always above (or near) the North Pole? If Earth is tilted, Polaris' path should be in winter 23 degrees away from its path in summer, or not?
observational-astronomy earth amateur-observing fundamental-astronomy
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
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Why is Polaris, the North Star, always above (or near) the North Pole? If Earth is tilted, Polaris' path should be in winter 23 degrees away from its path in summer, or not?
observational-astronomy earth amateur-observing fundamental-astronomy
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Why is Polaris, the North Star, always above (or near) the North Pole? If Earth is tilted, Polaris' path should be in winter 23 degrees away from its path in summer, or not?
observational-astronomy earth amateur-observing fundamental-astronomy
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Why is Polaris, the North Star, always above (or near) the North Pole? If Earth is tilted, Polaris' path should be in winter 23 degrees away from its path in summer, or not?
observational-astronomy earth amateur-observing fundamental-astronomy
observational-astronomy earth amateur-observing fundamental-astronomy
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 6 hours ago
Guest55
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
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asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
asked 7 hours ago
Guest55Guest55
133
133
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Guest55 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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You are correct that the axis of the Earth's rotation is tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit by 23 degrees. But it is incorrect that the direction that the axis points changes by a large amount (it should be 2*23 degrees) over a 6 month time span.
Your assumption. If axis it pointed at Polaris at (1), then it should be pointed at a different star at (2).
The axis remains pointed in the same direction throughout the entire year because the laws of physics are that the axis of a spinning object remains pointed in the same direction unless a torque acts on the body to change its orientation. There are torques acting on the Earth (namely the Sun and Moon), but it takes 13000 years to change the direction from "one way to the opposite way", not 6 months.
Correct. The orientation of the Earth's spin axis remains pointed at the same star throughout the year (ignoring the slow, 26000 year precession cycle).
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
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Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
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– Guest55
6 hours ago
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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$begingroup$
You are correct that the axis of the Earth's rotation is tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit by 23 degrees. But it is incorrect that the direction that the axis points changes by a large amount (it should be 2*23 degrees) over a 6 month time span.
Your assumption. If axis it pointed at Polaris at (1), then it should be pointed at a different star at (2).
The axis remains pointed in the same direction throughout the entire year because the laws of physics are that the axis of a spinning object remains pointed in the same direction unless a torque acts on the body to change its orientation. There are torques acting on the Earth (namely the Sun and Moon), but it takes 13000 years to change the direction from "one way to the opposite way", not 6 months.
Correct. The orientation of the Earth's spin axis remains pointed at the same star throughout the year (ignoring the slow, 26000 year precession cycle).
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You are correct that the axis of the Earth's rotation is tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit by 23 degrees. But it is incorrect that the direction that the axis points changes by a large amount (it should be 2*23 degrees) over a 6 month time span.
Your assumption. If axis it pointed at Polaris at (1), then it should be pointed at a different star at (2).
The axis remains pointed in the same direction throughout the entire year because the laws of physics are that the axis of a spinning object remains pointed in the same direction unless a torque acts on the body to change its orientation. There are torques acting on the Earth (namely the Sun and Moon), but it takes 13000 years to change the direction from "one way to the opposite way", not 6 months.
Correct. The orientation of the Earth's spin axis remains pointed at the same star throughout the year (ignoring the slow, 26000 year precession cycle).
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You are correct that the axis of the Earth's rotation is tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit by 23 degrees. But it is incorrect that the direction that the axis points changes by a large amount (it should be 2*23 degrees) over a 6 month time span.
Your assumption. If axis it pointed at Polaris at (1), then it should be pointed at a different star at (2).
The axis remains pointed in the same direction throughout the entire year because the laws of physics are that the axis of a spinning object remains pointed in the same direction unless a torque acts on the body to change its orientation. There are torques acting on the Earth (namely the Sun and Moon), but it takes 13000 years to change the direction from "one way to the opposite way", not 6 months.
Correct. The orientation of the Earth's spin axis remains pointed at the same star throughout the year (ignoring the slow, 26000 year precession cycle).
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
$endgroup$
You are correct that the axis of the Earth's rotation is tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit by 23 degrees. But it is incorrect that the direction that the axis points changes by a large amount (it should be 2*23 degrees) over a 6 month time span.
Your assumption. If axis it pointed at Polaris at (1), then it should be pointed at a different star at (2).
The axis remains pointed in the same direction throughout the entire year because the laws of physics are that the axis of a spinning object remains pointed in the same direction unless a torque acts on the body to change its orientation. There are torques acting on the Earth (namely the Sun and Moon), but it takes 13000 years to change the direction from "one way to the opposite way", not 6 months.
Correct. The orientation of the Earth's spin axis remains pointed at the same star throughout the year (ignoring the slow, 26000 year precession cycle).
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
answered 6 hours ago
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
3,0521612
3,0521612
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Thank you so much! Now I understand why the stars are seen on the same paths.
$endgroup$
– Guest55
6 hours ago
add a comment |
Guest55 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Guest55 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Guest55 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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