...two reasons for the difference between the sun and a well regulated clock. One of these reasons is the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit. The other is the inequality of the earth's motion in its orbit. This orbit is an ellipse, and the motion...

...more conspicuous by its being described on the same globe; and the obliquity of the ecliptic shows the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit. But to return to fig. 2. Plate VIII. The spaces between the several parallel circles on the terrestrial...

...and confining the range of solar heat, vast as it might easily become, within such narrow bounds ; the inclination of the earth's' axis to the plane of its orbit, so as to produce the agreeable vicissitudes of the seasons, and increase the varieties of animal and...

...the south pole. The distance of these circles from the poles, and from the equator, is determined by the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit, that is, the path which it describes annually around the sun. These and oilier small circles, running...

...considerable change in the annual heat or cold of a particular country. We have no reason to suppose that the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit has ever been varied ; but strong evidence to the contrary. If this inclination has always been the...

...rapidity. 232. The phenomena of the SEASONS, which we may now explain, depend on two causes ; first, the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit ; and, secondly, to the circumstance that the earth's axis always remains parallel to itself. Imagine...

...the winds. The temperature of any place is well known to depend, in a great degree, on its latitude. The inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit has served to diffuse the influence of the solar rays more extensively over the surface, than if the...

...heavens, or by a good sun-dial. This difference between equal and apparent time depends, first, upon the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit ; and secondly, upon the elliptic or oval form of the earth's orbit; for the earth's orbit being an...

...in ten and ahalf, and others in twenty-three hours. As to the vicissitude of the seasons — this is owing to the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orhit. If the axis of the earth stood perpendicular to the plane of its orbit, there would be no variety...

...not uniform ; this arises from the inequality in the rate of the earth's motion round the sun, and the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit. (See Prob. XXX.) Its mean distance from the sun is 95 millions of miles. It performs a revolution in...