What mechanical process causes the apparent rotation of the entire celestial sphere?
Answer
The Earth spinning on its axis approximately every twenty-four hours
The illusion that the entire dome of stars is rotating around a central point is entirely a result of the observer being situated on a rotating planet. The Earth spins consistently on its axis, completing one full rotation roughly every twenty-four hours. As an observer stands still, the planet turns beneath them, creating the visual effect that the stars are moving overhead in circles around the celestial poles. This motion is analogous to watching the world spin when one is stationary, rather than the celestial objects revolving around the viewer.
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