secular motion

secular motion

Secular variations in the motions of the planets are those that have very slow changes that proceed through ages (secula) in a way such that they are nearly proportional with time for a relatively large number of years. Precession is considered a secular variation, arising from the motions of the mean equator and the mean ecliptic. Compare this with periodic variations, which are rather rapid changes; nutation is a periodic variation.

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Category: General astronomy
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