The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.44° to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This tilt, also known as the obliquity of the ecliptic, is the reason for the changing seasons as it affects the distribution of sunlight on the Earth’s surface throughout the year1.
The axial tilt is not fixed; it changes very slowly over time due to gravitational forces exerted by the Sun, the Moon, and other planets. This phenomenon, known as axial precession, causes the tilt to oscillate between about 22.1° and 24.5° over a cycle of approximately 41,000 years2.
Currently, the Earth’s axial tilt is decreasing at a rate of about 46.8 arcseconds per century1. This gradual change contributes to long-term variations in the Earth’s climate, such as ice ages.
If you’re interested in the current exact tilt, as of June 24, 2024, it was measured at 23.43609° or 23°26’09.9"2. This precise measurement can vary slightly over short periods due to the Earth’s not perfectly smooth shape and uneven mass distribution.
Негізгі бет Ойын-сауық The Earths Constant Rotation-Axis/Tilt
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