February 28th 2014

The Earth is close to being 12 hours short of its actual orbital position which began March 1st 2012. This is a consequence of how we format the 1461 rotations to 4 orbital circuits by omitting the 1/4 rotation/6 hours worth of orbital motion needed to return the Earth to the same position each circuit.

On February 29th 2016, that extra rotation and 24 hours worth of orbital motion will return the Earth very close to its actual orbital position that began on March 1st 2012.

The original reference translated into 21st century terms is the apparent motion of Sirius behind the Sun and its re-appearance fixes the Earth's position in space to the nearest rotation.

Presently we are 12 hours out from the actual orbital position whereas this day last year it was 6 hours so that at noon tomorrow (Mar 1st) the Earth will have returned to the same position it was at the beginning of March 1st 2012.


Kids will love it

http://astrobob.areavoices.com/files...t-1024x805.jpg

Beautiful arena out there presently with Sirius and Orion right out there front and center stage. Our planet is a little over 12 hours out from the orbital position it had 2 years ago meaning that it would take the Earth 12 hours to travel that distance in that time to return to its March 1st 2012 position.

This would be a normal discussion under different circumstances but unfortunately people do not care about the celestial arena enough nor the motions of the planet to appreciate that on Feb 28th 2014,it will take almost a full 24 hours for the Earth to catch up on its March 1st 2012 position in space. We know this as we add an extra rotation to coincide with covering that distance.

The celestial sphere crowd only work off 12 hours difference in rotational terms hence cannot appreciate what the leap day is for in closing out 4 orbital circuits or more importantly that 24 hour difference in orbital distance terms. That is a great tragedy for everyone but most especially students who are being denied a proper explanation for some misguided adherence to the Royal Society guys of the late 17th century.

http://astrobob.areavoices.com/files...t-1024x805.jpg

Beautiful arena out there presently with Sirius and Orion right out there front and center stage. Our planet is a little over 12 hours out from the orbital position it had 2 years ago meaning that it would take the Earth 12 hours to travel that distance in that time to return to its March 1st 2012 position.

This would be a normal discussion under different circumstances but unfortunately people do not care about the celestial arena enough nor the motions of the planet to appreciate that at the end of Feb 28th 2016,it will take almost another full 24 hours for the Earth to catch up on its March 1st 2012 position in space. We know this as we add an extra rotation to coincide with covering that distance.

The celestial sphere crowd only work off 12 hours difference in rotational terms hence cannot appreciate what the leap day is for in closing out 4 orbital circuits or more importantly that 24 hour difference in orbital distance terms. That is a great tragedy for everyone but most especially students who are being denied a proper explanation for some misguided adherence to the Royal Society guys of the late 17th century.