wrote in news:5229-43404462-719@storefull-
3257.bay.webtv.net:

Hello... Could someone please explain precession in terms of the Earth's
26,000 year wobble? ...As a pilot, I am aware that there is precession
when, say the taildragger plane's "tail" lifts off the ground. ...the
fuselage now wants to swing either left or right, depending on the props
rotation. ..And it does this, because when the tail lifts, the prop's
spin in space has been altered. ...But what about the Earth? ...Is the
change brought about because the whole solar system is wobbling up and
down, or what? Thanks for any help... ...Jon



http://science.howstuffworks.com/gyr....htm/printable
http://astro.wsu.edu/worthey/astro/h...recession.html

From the second reference:
The physical cause of the precession is a torque (twisting) of the earth,
caused mostly by the sun's and the moon's gravity pulling on the equatorial
bulges of the earth.




--
Colin J Denman
N 51º 54' 38" W 00º 29' 45" Elev: 125m
email: -- use my first name
home: http://www.cjdenman.freeserve.co.uk