Editing 1878: Earth Orbital Diagram
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
+ | This comic is the third consecutive comic published in the week before the {{w|solar eclipse}} occurring on Monday, {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|August 21, 2017}} which is a total solar eclipse and visible in totality within a band across the {{w|contiguous United States}} from west to east. The other comics are [[1876: Eclipse Searches]] and [[1877: Eclipse Science]]. | ||
− | + | The comic claims that the reason that eclipses don't happen every month is simple to understand by looking at an orbital diagram. Ironically, the cartoon has so many parts and labels that it is far more difficult to understand than is implied. While the graph itself is based on {{w|Orbital elements|astronomical definitions}} all the labels are nonsense in this context. | |
− | + | All these labels are complicated words, some are somewhat related to orbital mechanics ("equinox", "perihelion") while some are just Latin-sounding nouns. Moreover, many of the labels provided are kludged, obfuscated, or simply made up. Compare/contrast with the standard {{w|Kepler orbit|Kepler Orbit}} diagram. Most easily recognizable are the "Dimples of Venus," referring to axis-intersection points in the diagram on Earth. | |
− | + | The title text emphasize the warnings on not showing directly into the sun in a jokingly manner and refers to 'orbit' as the anatomical term for the eye socket. | |
− | + | All the labels and their astronomical meanings in detail: | |
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;Arctangent | ;Arctangent | ||
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;Astral plane | ;Astral plane | ||
− | *The {{w|Astral plane}} is a plane of existence in various esoteric theories. | + | *The {{w|Astral plane}} is a plane of existence in various esoteric theories. Also used in fictional fantasy context. |
*The picture shows the {{w|Orbit_of_the_Moon|lunar orbital plane}}, the plane in which the Moon orbits the Earth, tilted about 5.1 degrees from the ecliptic. | *The picture shows the {{w|Orbit_of_the_Moon|lunar orbital plane}}, the plane in which the Moon orbits the Earth, tilted about 5.1 degrees from the ecliptic. | ||
;Declension | ;Declension | ||
− | *{{w|Declension}} is the inflection of nouns in a language | + | *{{w|Declension}} is the inflection of nouns in a language. |
− | *In astronomy | + | *In astronomy the {{w|Declination|declination}} is one of the two angles that locate a point on the celestial sphere in the equatorial coordinate system. It is measured north or south of the celestial equator, like the geographical latitude on Earth. But in the picture the label is at the angle for the axial tilt of the Earth. |
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;Determinant of the date of Easter | ;Determinant of the date of Easter | ||
− | *In Western Christianity {{w|Easter}} always falls on the first Sunday after the first | + | *In Western Christianity {{w|Easter}} always falls on the first Sunday after the first astronomical full moon after the beginning of spring (equinox). Thus it is defined by a combination of a solar and a moon calendar. The position of that angle isn't that bad but it should be not more than 30 degrees (slightly more than one month.) |
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;Dimples of Venus | ;Dimples of Venus | ||
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;Enceliopsis | ;Enceliopsis | ||
− | * | + | *{{w|Enceliopsis}} are small genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, appropriately known as "sunrays". |
− | * | + | *In astronomy this point has also no specific meaning. But {{w|Enceladus}} is a moon around {{w|Saturn}}. |
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;Equinox / Solstice | ;Equinox / Solstice | ||
− | {{w|Equinox}} and {{w|Solstice}} have | + | {{w|Equinox}} and {{w|Solstice}} have a much different meaning: |
− | * | + | *Equinoxes are the two instants in the year when the Sun is exactly over the equator; the length of day and night are very nearly equal that day, and it is the first day of spring or the first day of autumn. |
− | * | + | *Solstices are the instants in the year when the sun's angle is maximally far from Earth's equator; when one occurs, the length of the day or night is shortest or longest (depending on whether one is in the northern or southern hemisphere), and it marks the first day of summer or winter. |
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Both types occur because the Earth's rotation axis is tilted (at 23.4 degrees) from its orbital plane (ecliptic) about the Sun. | Both types occur because the Earth's rotation axis is tilted (at 23.4 degrees) from its orbital plane (ecliptic) about the Sun. | ||
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;Hypothecate | ;Hypothecate | ||
*{{w|Hypothecate}} is a legal verb that means something similar to "make a mortgage". | *{{w|Hypothecate}} is a legal verb that means something similar to "make a mortgage". | ||
− | *The {{w| | + | *The depicted angle has no meanings but a {{w|Hypotenuse}} is the longest side of a right-angled triangle. Here it is the shortest side on a non right-angled triangle. |
;Obsequity | ;Obsequity | ||
− | *Obsequity means the state of being obsequious (showing | + | *Obsequity means the state of being obsequious (showing a willingness to obey or serve). |
*In astronomy the correct word is {{w|Obliquity}}, meaning an axial tilt. | *In astronomy the correct word is {{w|Obliquity}}, meaning an axial tilt. | ||
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;Prolapse | ;Prolapse | ||
*A {{w|Prolapse}} is a medical condition in which an internal organ is slipped forward or down. | *A {{w|Prolapse}} is a medical condition in which an internal organ is slipped forward or down. | ||
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*{{w|Retrograde and prograde motion}} are terms used to describe the apparent motion of celestial objects through the sky. | *{{w|Retrograde and prograde motion}} are terms used to describe the apparent motion of celestial objects through the sky. | ||
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;Solar plexus | ;Solar plexus | ||
− | *The {{w|Solar plexus}} is a network of nerves located in the abdomen | + | *The {{w|Solar plexus}} is a network of nerves located in the abdomen. |
*{{w|Solar}} is an adjective referring to the Sun, the star in our solar system. | *{{w|Solar}} is an adjective referring to the Sun, the star in our solar system. | ||
;Tropopause | ;Tropopause | ||
*The {{w|Tropopause}} is the boundary in our atmosphere between the troposphere and stratosphere, defined as the boundary where air ceases to cool with increasing elevation. It is 9-17 km above sea level, not the thousands of kilometers as depicted here. | *The {{w|Tropopause}} is the boundary in our atmosphere between the troposphere and stratosphere, defined as the boundary where air ceases to cool with increasing elevation. It is 9-17 km above sea level, not the thousands of kilometers as depicted here. | ||
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;Angle between the Astral and the Sagittal Planes | ;Angle between the Astral and the Sagittal Planes | ||
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;Errata | ;Errata | ||
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==Explanation for "Why isn't there a (solar) eclipse every month?"== | ==Explanation for "Why isn't there a (solar) eclipse every month?"== | ||
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[[Image:Eclipse_Diagram.jpg]] | [[Image:Eclipse_Diagram.jpg]] | ||
− | The real explanation of eclipses is evident from this xkcd comic, but is labeled with a fictional character similar to a Greek phi but with two vertical lines; the remaining labels also do not contribute to this explanation and exist only to distract or misinform | + | The real explanation of eclipses is evident from this xkcd comic, but is labeled with a fictional character similar to a Greek phi but with two vertical lines; the remaining labels also do not contribute to this explanation and exist only to distract or misinform the reader. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
:[An orbital map of the Earth is shown. The Sun is in the center, the Earth is at the right bottom, and the Moon is left below the Earth.] | :[An orbital map of the Earth is shown. The Sun is in the center, the Earth is at the right bottom, and the Moon is left below the Earth.] | ||
:'''Why isn't there an eclipse every month?''' | :'''Why isn't there an eclipse every month?''' | ||
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[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
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