Article
Article
Earth rotation and orbital motion
Article By:
McCarthy, Dennis D. Formerly, Time Service Division, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC.
Last updated:2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.209400
The rotation of the Earth about its axis is demonstrated by the classical Foucault pendulum experiment. Its revolution in its orbit around the Sun is shown by the annual parallactic displacement of relatively nearby stars with respect to the background of more distant stars. However, because the Earth is not truly a rigid, symmetric body and because it interacts with other members of the solar system gravitationally, these motions vary with time. See also: Foucault pendulum; Orbital motion; Parallax (astronomy)
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