The North Pole Part 2
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Authors
Rigge, William F., S.J.
Issue Date
1914-02
Volume
XXII
Issue
2
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Rigge Papers , Earth
Alternative Title
Abstract
First Paragraph
The axis of revolution about which the earth revolves is not fixed in the earth, as one would naturally suppose, and as even scientific men supposed until the contrary was proved. It moves about in a very complicated manner. The poles shift on the ground in a space about sixty feet in diameter. There are two components to the motion. The first has a period of one year, and moves the pole of revolution in an ellipse, whose major axis is about twenty-eight feet, and minor axis about eight feet. The center of this ellipse is a certain fixed point termed the pole of symmetry or the pole of figure. The second component moves the pole of revolution in a circle about this same pole of symmetry as a center. This circle has a diameter of about thirty feet, and the period is 428 days. Both motions are in the same direction, from west to east. The ellipse swings round slowly in the opposite direction at the rate of about five degrees a year, and there seems to be another variation with a period of about 436 days.
Description
Reprint from The Creighton Courier, June 15,1913.
Citation
Publisher
License
PDM 1.0