Sidereal day
from class: Intro to Astronomy Definition A sidereal day is the time it takes for Earth to rotate once relative to distant stars, approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. It is different from a solar day, which is based on the position of the Sun in the sky.
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Predict what's on your test 5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test The sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than the solar day. It is used by astronomers to track celestial objects because it aligns with Earth's rotation relative to stars. A sidereal day represents one complete rotation of Earth on its axis. Due to Earth's orbit around the Sun, each solar day is slightly longer than a sidereal day. Sidereal time can be observed using a sidereal clock, which is synchronized with Earth's rotation relative to distant stars. Review Questions What is the duration of a sidereal day in hours, minutes, and seconds? Why do astronomers prefer using sidereal days over solar days? How does Earth's orbit around the Sun affect the length of a solar day compared to a sidereal day?
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