APSIDAL PRECESSION Meaning and
Definition
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Apsidal precession refers to the astronomical phenomenon in which the orientation of the major axis of an orbit slowly rotates over time. It occurs primarily in planetary systems, including both the Earth-Moon system and other celestial bodies, such as the planets revolving around the Sun.
In the case of the Earth-Moon system, apsidal precession refers to the gradual rotation of the elliptical orbit of the Moon around the Earth's axis. This rotation has two components: the precession of the line of apsides and the precession of the celestial equator.
The precession of the line of apsides is the displacement of the point in an elliptical orbit where the object (e.g., the Moon) is nearest to the center of attraction (e.g., the Earth). This point slowly moves around the ellipse due to the gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies, such as the Sun.
The precession of the celestial equator is the slow change in the orientation of the Earth's equator with respect to the plane of the Moon's orbit. It is caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and other planets on the Earth's equatorial bulge. This causes the Earth's equator to sway back and forth over time, resulting in a slow rotation of the orbital plane of the Moon around the Earth.
Overall, apsidal precession describes the gradual modification of the orientation of an elliptical orbit over time due to various gravitational influences, leading to a change in the position and alignment of the major axis of the orbit.
Common Misspellings for APSIDAL PRECESSION
- zpsidal precession
- spsidal precession
- wpsidal precession
- qpsidal precession
- aosidal precession
- alsidal precession
- a0sidal precession
- apaidal precession
- apzidal precession
- apxidal precession
- apdidal precession
- apeidal precession
- apwidal precession
- apsudal precession
- apsjdal precession
- apskdal precession
- apsodal precession
- aps9dal precession
- aps8dal precession
- apsisal precession
Etymology of APSIDAL PRECESSION
The word "apsidal precession" is composed of two distinct terms: "apsidal" and "precession".
1. Apsidal: The term "apsidal" comes from the Greek word "apsis", meaning "arch" or "vault". It refers to the major points in the elliptical orbit of a celestial body, specifically the periapsis (the point of closest approach to the central body) and the apoapsis (the point of furthest distance from the central body).
2. Precession: The term "precession" comes from the Latin word "praecedere", which means "to go before". It denotes the slight shift or rotation of the axis of a rotating body, such as a spinning top or a celestial body.
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