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Astronomy/Earth's axis
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Question
Does the earth's axis tilt away from the sun or towards it as it revolves around the sun? eg On the BBC Science and Nature home page it shows the tilt to the right and on Enchanted Learning it is shown as tilting towards the left. I am confused.
Thank you
The axis always points in the same direction, so when it is on one side of the Sun, the northern side of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun, and when it is on the other side of the Sun, with the northern side tilted the same way but the Sun in the opposite direction, it is tilted away from the Sun. This is the cause of the seasons.
The reason that the tilt is shown one way on one website, and a different way on another, is that they're showing the Earth as if viewed from opposite directions. Imagine looking at a globe, then walking around to the other side of the globe, and looking back at it. The globe is the same, but going to the other side makes it look backwards, relative to the other view.
Courtney Seligman
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you. Shame they don't explain this. No wonder children and adults find Science a muddle at times. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Courtney Seligman
Expertise
I can answer almost any question about astronomy and related sciences, such as physics and geology. I will not answer questions about astrology and similar pseudo-scientific rubbish.
Experience
I have been a professor of astronomy for over 40 years, and am working on an online text/encyclopedia of astronomy.
Publications
Astronomical Journal, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (too long ago to be really relevant, but you could search for Courtney Seligman on Google Scholar)
Education/Credentials
I received a BA in astronomy and physics and a MA in astronomy, both from UCLA. I was working on my doctoral dissertation when I started teaching, and discovered that I preferred teaching to research.
Awards and Honors
(too long ago to be relevant, but Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi still keep trying to get me to become a paying member)
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