SCIENTIFIC DATA.

A. 10TH PLANET ?
On top of the 9 planets we know, there are still a number of other Asteroids that rotate around the Sun. We don't even know the exact boundaries of our Solar System. One of these Asteroids could be perceived as being a planet. It is located between NEPTUNE and PLUTO. Its official name is 2000 EB 173 and the unofficial one is "PLUTINO". It is very small and its diameter is approximately 650 km. A Planetoid was also discovered in 1977 : CHIRON, which is between SATURN an URANUS. Its diameter is approximately 200 km and it rotates around the Sun in 50,68 years.

B. MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH.
- ROTATION : on itself - lasts a day or 23h 56 min.
- REVOLUTION : around the Sun in 365 days.
- PRECESSION : the Earth's axis rotates - duration : 25.550 years.
- INCLINATION : the axis tilts between 22.1� and 24.5� (currently 23.4�) duration : approx. 41.000 years.
- EX-CENTRICITY : The size of the ellipse around the Sun varies - duration : 91.000 years.
- EUSTATIC SWAYING : caused by the ocean's water movements.

C. PLANETS.

(1) : Distance from the Sun in Astronomicals Units.
(2) : Revolution in years.
(3) : Diameter in km.
(4) : Duration of a rotation in hours.
(5) : (medium) density.
(6) : number of moons currently known.

D. DIMENSIONS.

Due to the enormous distances, other units are being used.
- ASTRONOMICAL UNIT (AU) : the average distance EARTH - SUN : 149.597.870,61 km
- LIGHT YEAR (LY) : the distance traveled by light within a year. In a vacuum light travels 299.792 km/sec. A light year is : 9.460.528.000.000 km.
- Speed of Earth's rotation around the Sun : 90.000 km/h.
- Speed of the Solar System in our Galaxy : 792.000 km/h.

E. ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS.

Zodiacal constellations are also extremely far from Earth and several may not belong to our Galaxy (in bold). By taking a star in each constellation, it is possible to guess how far they are.

- ARIES : star HAMEL - distance : 65 LY.
- TAURUS : star ALDEBARAN - distance : 68 LY; PLEIADES : 400 LY; HYADES : 133 LY
- GEMINI : star CASTOR : distance : 45 LY; POLUX : 36 LY.
- CANCER : star PRAESEPE : distance : 500 LY.
- LEO : star REGULUS : distance 85 LY.
- VIRGO : star SPICA : distance 270 LY.
- LIBRA : star ZUBEN distance : 45 LY.
- SCORPIUS : star ANTARES : distance : 320 LY.
- SAGITTARIUS : star KAUSAUSTRALIS distance : 10 LY.
- CAPRICORNUS : stars at 350 LY.
- AQUARIUS : stars at 36 LY.
- PISCES : star FOMALHAUT distance : 23 LY.

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