tropical year
A 'tropical year' is essential for understanding the Earth's seasonal cycle and is slightly shorter than a calendar year.
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Definition
C1Astronomy
(technical, academic)The period it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun, measured from one vernal equinox to the next, lasting approximately 365.24 days.
Example
- The tropical year is crucial for calibrating our calendars to match the seasons.
- Due to the tropical year, we experience a shift in the timing of equinoxes over centuries.
C1Astronomy
(technical, academic)The time it takes for the Sun to return to the same position in the sky relative to the cycle of seasons, approximately 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds.
Example
- Astronomers use the tropical year to predict seasonal changes accurately.
- The discrepancy between a calendar year and a tropical year leads to the necessity of leap years.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tropical year":