From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!pyuxbb!pyuxdd!pyuxjj!colbert
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Title: re:length of day.
Article-I.D.: pyuxjj.340
Posted: Tue Nov  9 17:28:32 1982
Received: Wed Nov 10 05:27:46 1982

Rotation of the day with respect to an inertial reference frame or
to the sun?
I believe that 23 hours 56 minutes is with respect to an inertial frame
(actualy to some stars drifting in space), and 24 hours is measured against the
relative position of the sun.  Remember that the Earth is moving in it's orbit
about the sun, so the sun has shifted it's position relative to us.

Remember this next time you are trying to land a spaceship with it's autopilot
blown away.
				Charles Colbert
				pyuxjj!colbert
				pyuxww!colbert