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Hornbein
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I would think that precession of the equinoxes occurs only if the planet is at least partially rigid. Since Jupiter is gas and liquid, it would not experience precession of the equinoxes. Is this right?
Janus said:According to this paper: http://astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro6570/Precession_Free_and_Forced.pdf, Jupiter's axial precession has a period of ~500,000 yrs.
Precession of the equinoxes is a phenomenon where the Earth's rotational axis gradually changes its orientation over a period of approximately 26,000 years. This causes the position of the equinoxes (the points where the Earth's orbit intersects with the celestial equator) to slowly shift.
Yes, Jupiter also experiences precession of the equinoxes. However, the rate of precession for Jupiter is much slower than that of Earth, with a cycle of approximately 1,200 years.
Similar to Earth, Jupiter's precession is caused by the gravitational pull of other planets and the Sun. However, the gas giant's massive size and strong gravitational field also play a role in its precessional movement.
Scientists measure Jupiter's precession by observing the changes in the planet's equinoxes and using mathematical models to calculate the rate of precession. This can be done using telescopes and spacecraft observations.
The precession of the equinoxes on Jupiter does not have any significant impact on the planet itself. However, it can affect the positions of Jupiter's moons and their orbits, which can have implications for future space missions and observations of the planet.