by S. Bilderback » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:41 am
orin stepanek wrote:I was asking about the wobble that causes the changes in seasons; and whether of not all planets and or asteroids and satellites were also affected in this way. Is this a natural phenomenon or is it unique to the Earth and the Moon???
The "Wobble" isn't really a factor in the seasonal effects of Earth, The "Wobble" of the Moon is caused by the orbit of the Moon not being fixed directly over the equator, so the observed tilt of the Moon changes in respect to its orbital latitude over the Earth. The orbit of the Moon has about a 10 degree inclination in relation to the Equator, most other naturally orbiting bodies stay with in 1 or 2 degree of the host object's rotation, so in this respect it probably quite rare.
As for the seasonal effect, Mars has nearly the same tilt as Earth, so its probably very common. Now Neptune, it's tilt of 47 degrees would not be so common.
[quote="orin stepanek"]I was asking about the wobble that causes the changes in seasons; and whether of not all planets and or asteroids and satellites were also affected in this way. Is this a natural phenomenon or is it unique to the Earth and the Moon???[/quote]
The "Wobble" isn't really a factor in the seasonal effects of Earth, The "Wobble" of the Moon is caused by the orbit of the Moon not being fixed directly over the equator, so the observed tilt of the Moon changes in respect to its orbital latitude over the Earth. The orbit of the Moon has about a 10 degree inclination in relation to the Equator, most other naturally orbiting bodies stay with in 1 or 2 degree of the host object's rotation, so in this respect it probably quite rare.
As for the seasonal effect, Mars has nearly the same tilt as Earth, so its probably very common. Now Neptune, it's tilt of 47 degrees would not be so common.