Precession is the alteration of a celestial body’s axis of rotation, which can be pairless or pair-induced. The Earth’s precession, known as the precession of the equinoxes, causes a slow change in the position of stars in the night sky. Changes in inclination can also affect precession, and the oval-shaped orbit of planets and bodies is believed to cause phenomena such as ice ages. Precession was first identified by Hipparchus in 150 BC, and modern theories were established by Isaac Newton.
Any alteration in the position of a celestial body’s axis of rotation is known as a precession. Astronomical bodies naturally exhibit slow changes in both their rotation rate and orbital state around other gravitationally strong bodies. In the field of astronomy, there are two types of precession: pairless and pair-induced. According to the mathematical principles of torqueless precession, the axis of rotation is different from the ellipse of an object. In the case of torque-induced precession, the object maintains an alternating rotation.
The most common example of this phenomenon can be seen in the rotation of the Earth itself. Known primarily as the precession of the equinoxes, the axial rotation of the Earth essentially forms the shape of a cone as it orbits the Sun. This occurs within the Earth’s orbit every 25,800 years and causes the position of the stars in the night sky to slowly change . While the stars themselves don’t actually change position, their position relative to coordinates on the planet’s surface does change. Observers of this shift in the earth’s crust can only identify a one-degree change every 72 years.
In addition to the actual changes in rotation, changes in inclination can affect precession. Inclination is basically the angle in which an astronomical body relates to a certain other body. In the case of Earth, the planet’s tilt in the solar system is essentially aligned with Jupiter. However, this tilt will change due to natural drift over the course of approximately 100,000 years.
The reason behind the changes in both rotation and tilt is due to the oval-shaped orbit of planets and other bodies. Gravity pulls objects towards larger objects imperfectly, resulting in rotation of the bodies. As the body rotates, it causes resistive forces against the gravitational pull, resulting in an oblong orbit. The combination of these phenomena is believed to be the cause of such accidents on Earth as ice ages, according to the field of precession astronomy.
The first understanding of precession was identified in 150 BC by Hipparchus, a Greek astronomer. However, studies have shown that other ancient cultures, such as the Mayans, were also aware of the phenomenon. Modern theories involving the Earth’s rotation and tilt were established by the physical laws of Isaac Newton, who defined the effects of gravity from both the Sun and the Moon.
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