Monday (07/04/2011), the Earth will be at the farthest distance from the Sun, ie 152,102,196 kilometers. As a result, the sun will appear 3 percent smaller than usual. However, this difference is certainly not visible to the naked eye. The position of the Earth away from the sun also does not affect Earth's weather.
"The difference may be subtle, but clearly measurable," said Mark Hammergen, an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, Chicago, USA.
The distance of Earth to the sun is always changing because the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular, but elliptical. This phenomenon is described in detail for the first time with mathematical calculations by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, in the 17th century.
Elliptical shape allows the Earth is in a position closest to the Sun (called perihelion) and farthest position (known afelion).
Although the Earth is in a position farther from the Sun, the Earth's northern hemisphere still feel summer. "This was caused by Earth's tilt affects the seasons," said Hammergen. Currently, north-south axis of the Earth is at 23.4 degrees inclination.
Incidentally, the North Pole was facing the Sun when the Earth is at position afelion. "That is, the day will be longer than the night in Earth's northern hemisphere," said Hammergen.
"The difference may be subtle, but clearly measurable," said Mark Hammergen, an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, Chicago, USA.
The distance of Earth to the sun is always changing because the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular, but elliptical. This phenomenon is described in detail for the first time with mathematical calculations by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, in the 17th century.
Elliptical shape allows the Earth is in a position closest to the Sun (called perihelion) and farthest position (known afelion).
Although the Earth is in a position farther from the Sun, the Earth's northern hemisphere still feel summer. "This was caused by Earth's tilt affects the seasons," said Hammergen. Currently, north-south axis of the Earth is at 23.4 degrees inclination.
Incidentally, the North Pole was facing the Sun when the Earth is at position afelion. "That is, the day will be longer than the night in Earth's northern hemisphere," said Hammergen.
(National Geographic Indonesia / Alex Pangestu)
No comments:
Post a Comment