Year 2012 Mayan Precession of the Equinoxes
Today I’m thinking about the Precession of the Equinoxes since the full cycle of the Mayan Long Count Calendar correlates with the 25,756 years it takes the earth’s axis to turn one full cycle.
As I understand it, the Precession of the Equinoxes can be compared to a spinning top that is not spinning straight up but at a slight angle.
One spin of the earth creates one day and takes 24 hours. One long circle of the spinning earth around the sun is one year or about 365 1/4 days.
If the earth’s axis of rotation was straight up and down, there would be no seasons.
Because the earth spins at an angle to its yearly rotation around the sun, we have seasons. Very simply, during the part of the year the top half of the earth is pointed toward the sun, we have summer. During the part of the year we are on the other side of the sun and are pointing away from the sun, we experience winter.
If the earth’s axis of rotation was not slowly (25, 756 years) describing a circle, there would be no Precession of the Equinoxes.
How does the Precession of the Equinoxes affect us? Over the thousands of years, the north pole will no longer point toward Polaris.
Did the ancient Maya know about the Precession of the Equinoxes?
For more on the Precession of the Equinoxes:
http://www.crystalinks.com/precession.html
