9
Precession
of the Earth
The earths axis of rotation is tilted 23.50 relative to the plane containing the sun and other
planets.
The gravity from the Sun and moon is trying to tip the earth just like gravity is trying to tip a spinning top.
As with the top, the axis of the earth wobbles or PRECESSES in space, with a 26,000 year period.
Because the directions to the celestial poles are defined by the spin axis those poles move with time.
It isnt that the stars move it is that the grid we
paint on the
celestial sphere has to be redrawn from time-to-time.
Eventually Polaris will not be the pole star.
(From our Text:
Horizons, by Seeds)
