<p>The orbit of the Earth around the Sun defines an orbital plane.</p>
<p>The equator of the Earth is (currently) tilted at an angle of 23.4 degrees to this orbital plane.</p>
<p>Or to put it another way, the spin-axis of the Earth is tilted by 23.4 degrees to a vector defining the orbital angular momentum.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-23T16:21:16.583Z
Thanks, It seems Orbital Plane is not constant as earth do not return to the same location after one complete revolution( year ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82p-DYgGFjI&t=49s
puzzled
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-23T22:36:55.503Z
to ask for further clarification... does rotation axis precession affect ecliptic plane in any way?
BradV
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-24T16:40:32.823Z
@puzzled can you clarify what in that video says that Earth does not return to the same position after one year?
jcaron
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-24T17:03:46.470Z
@jcaron https://youtu.be/82p-DYgGFjI?t=15 ( that is from 00:15 to 0:25)
puzzled
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-24T17:23:31.300Z
There's a lot of confusing nonsense on YouTube about the orbits of planets.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-25T13:58:33.863Z
@puzzled: while qualitatively most things in that video might check out, everything visual in it is so highly exaggerated for visual effect, so that for all practical purposes (read: human timescales), the effect of all those cycles can be ignored. Exhibit A: how elliptic Earth's orbit is around the sun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_orbit#/media/File:EarthsOrbit_en.png
ojdo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-25T15:15:49.280Z
The diagram at the very end of the video is REALLY exaggerated. It makes the orgbit look like a spirograph design.
Barmar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-25T15:57:58.883Z
@puzzled When playing a record on a phonograph, the needle moves inward towards the center of the record, but it remains on the same *plane*.  In the same way, the earth can be closer to or farther from the sun while remaining in the orbital plane.
JimmyJames
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-25T16:32:23.487Z
@puzzled. The actual period of revolution is slightly more than one year, which is why we have leap years to adjust our calendar.  If you want to get more pedantic, we never return to the same position because the entire solar system is moving through the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is moving through the extragalactic void.
RisingZan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-23T14:32:40.347Z
2024-03-23T17:27:55.163Z
2024-03-23T17:27:55.163Z
ProfRob
<p>I am asking basic question on trying to understand on tilt. I know if I (as a human) tilt when standing on feet, my tilt will be in relation to gravity.</p>
<p>For Earth, I am not able to understand, what is the relative object of the earth tilt is. I am not asking how does north hemisphere or south hemisphere gets more/less sun light and when.</p>
<p>If there are visual model videos that this group can point out that will be helpful.</p>
<p>one <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sj2otIjZfM" rel="noreferrer">Example</a> on Phases of moon</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-23T16:51:02.297Z
https://youtu.be/xVERe-hc3G8?t=13 shows a model that seems to visually clarify the Orbital Plane . https://youtu.be/oW2GT48ZLwA?t=978 shows model along with other motions that are occurring at same time
puzzled
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-23T13:50:35.827Z
It is tilted relative to the plane of Earth's orbit (called the ecliptic).
Greg Miller
<the-sun><earth><rotation><axial-tilt>
Earth is Tilted, but in reference to What Object / relative to what?
puzzled
# Earth is Tilted, but in reference to What Object / relative to what?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-23)

I am asking basic question on trying to understand on tilt. I know if I (as a human) tilt when standing on feet, my tilt will be in relation to gravity.

For Earth, I am not able to understand, what is the relative object of the earth tilt is. I am not asking how does north hemisphere or south hemisphere gets more/less sun light and when.

If there are visual model videos that this group can point out that will be helpful.

one [Example](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sj2otIjZfM) on Phases of moon

**Tags:** the-sun, earth, rotation, axial-tilt
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It is tilted relative to the plane of Earth's orbit (called the ecliptic).  
> **username_0**: https://youtu.be/xVERe-hc3G8?t=13 shows a model that seems to visually clarify the Orbital Plane . https://youtu.be/oW2GT48ZLwA?t=978 shows model along with other motions that are occurring at same time  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-03-23. Score: 25 | Accepted answer

The orbit of the Earth around the Sun defines an orbital plane.

The equator of the Earth is (currently) tilted at an angle of 23.4 degrees to this orbital plane.

Or to put it another way, the spin-axis of the Earth is tilted by 23.4 degrees to a vector defining the orbital angular momentum.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, It seems Orbital Plane is not constant as earth do not return to the same location after one complete revolution( year ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82p-DYgGFjI&t=49s  
> **username_3**: to ask for further clarification... does rotation axis precession affect ecliptic plane in any way?  
> **username_4**: @puzzled can you clarify what in that video says that Earth does not return to the same position after one year?  
> **username_0**: @jcaron https://youtu.be/82p-DYgGFjI?t=15 ( that is from 00:15 to 0:25)  
> **username_2**: There's a lot of confusing nonsense on YouTube about the orbits of planets.  
> **username_5**: @puzzled: while qualitatively most things in that video might check out, everything visual in it is so highly exaggerated for visual effect, so that for all practical purposes (read: human timescales), the effect of all those cycles can be ignored. Exhibit A: how elliptic Earth's orbit is around the sun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_orbit#/media/File:EarthsOrbit_en.png  
> **username_6**: The diagram at the very end of the video is REALLY exaggerated. It makes the orgbit look like a spirograph design.  
> **username_7**: @puzzled When playing a record on a phonograph, the needle moves inward towards the center of the record, but it remains on the same *plane*.  In the same way, the earth can be closer to or farther from the sun while remaining in the orbital plane.  
> **username_8**: @puzzled. The actual period of revolution is slightly more than one year, which is why we have leap years to adjust our calendar.  If you want to get more pedantic, we never return to the same position because the entire solar system is moving through the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is moving through the extragalactic void.  

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