How long does it take for the Earth's axis wobble, known as precession, to complete one full cycle?
Answer
Roughly 26,000 years
The Earth's orientation in space is not eternally fixed relative to the distant stars; it undergoes a slow, majestic wobble known as the precession of the equinoxes. This phenomenon is caused by external gravitational forces, specifically the tugging by the Sun and Moon on the Earth’s equatorial bulge, which acts like a slowly wobbling, slightly unbalanced spinning top. This entire cycle of sweeping the celestial pole across a gigantic circle in the sky is extremely long, requiring approximately 26,000 years to complete one full revolution. This slow shift means that the star holding the title of North Star changes over vast stretches of time.
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