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Do I understand the following :

Currently the spin axis of the Earth is ~23o off perpendicular to the
orbital plane.

The spin axis precesses with a period of ~23kyr

So I ask the following:

How far off the perpendicular does this axis get?

Why does the axis precess? ie What is the external force?

Does this axis also nutate?


Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen