Astronomy   View all facts   Glossary   Help
physical phenomena > process > physical process > motion > axis motion > nutation
Next axis motion: polar motion    Up: axis motion    Previous axis motion: precession   

nutation
subjectfact 
nutationhas definition Slight but recurrent oscillation of the axis of the Earth, caused by the Moon's minutely greater gravitational effect on the Earth's equatorial "bulge".has source: Abbot, D. 1984 Astronomers, Peter Bedrick Books, New York, 2001-09-27 09:29:51.0
has definition A small, irregular oscillation in the precessional motion of Earth's rotational axis, caused primarily by lunar perturbations. It has a principal period of 18.6 years, and moves the equinox as much as 17" ahead of or behind its mean position.has source: Hopkins, J. 1976 Glossary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago Press, 2001-09-27 09:29:51.0
is a kind of axis motion2001-09-27 09:29:51.0
physical processhas domain physics2001-09-27 09:29:38.0