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(Phys.org) —The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.4 degrees to its orbital motion around the Sun (more precisely, its spin axis has a tilt of 23.4 degrees with respect to the axis of its orbit). This tilt, which causes our seasonal variations, was likely the result of a cataclysmic impact that occurred about 4.5 billion years ago between the Earth and another large body which probably also resulted in the formation of the moon. Such a large tilt is thought in general to result from a strong interaction between objects like the collision that formed the moon. Stars also spin, and their spin axes can also be tilted with respect to the orbits of their planets. In the case of our Sun, which spins roughly once every twenty-five days, its tilt is only 7.25 degrees, and so we never get a very good look at its north or south poles. Astronomers infer therefore that the Sun never had a traumatic encounter with another star (at least not since its planetary system formed, and at least not with a sudden collision).
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(Phys.org) —The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.4 degrees to its orbital motion around the Sun (more precisely, its spin axis has a tilt of 23.4 degrees with respect to the axis of its orbit). This tilt, which causes our seasonal variations, was likely the result of a cataclysmic impact that occurred about 4.5 billion years ago between the Earth and another large body which probably also resulted in the formation of the moon. Such a large tilt is thought in general to result from a strong interaction between objects like the collision that formed the moon. Stars also spin, and their spin axes can also be tilted with respect to the orbits of their planets. In the case of our Sun, which spins roughly once every twenty-five days, its tilt is only 7.25 degrees, and so we never get a very good look at its north or south poles. Astronomers infer therefore that the Sun never had a traumatic encounter with another star (at least not since its planetary system formed, and at least not with a sudden collision).
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