Solar vs.

sidereal time

JIMMA UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER

ENGINEERING

POST GRADUATE PROGRAM

M.Sc. COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

COURSE: SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

NAME: ID No

GEMECHU TESFAYE RM7 447/11

EPHREM CHEKOLE RM7 446/11

Submitted to: Dr. Ephrem.T

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 Solar vs. sidereal time

Sidereal Time

Sidereal time is time measured with respect to the apparent motion of the 'fixed' stars in the sky
due to the Earth's rotation. While the Earth is rotating on its axis it is also moving along its orbit
around the Sun. Over the course of a day the Earth moves about one degree along its orbit (360
degrees in a full orbit divided by 365.25 days in a year is about one degree). Therefore, from our
perspective, the Sun moves about one degree from west to east with respect to the 'fixed' stars.

Sidereal time is useful to astronomers because any object crosses the upper meridian when the
local sidereal time is equal to the object's right ascension. Knowing when an object will near the
meridian is useful because when an object is high in the sky, the distorting effects of the Earth's
atmosphere are minimized.

1 sidereal day = 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.1 seconds

Figure: A sidereal day is shorter than a solar day.

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 Solar vs. sidereal time

Solar time

Solar time is time measured with respect to the Sun's apparent motion in the sky. The clocks we
use for civil timekeeping are based on this motion. Of course, the apparent motion of the Sun
across the sky is actually caused by the rotation of the Earth. So, our clocks measure the length
of time required for the Earth to rotate once with respect to the Sun. From our perspective, the
Sun revolves around the Earth every 24 hours. This period is known as a solar day.

Difference between Solar time and sidereal time

A sidereal day is the time it takes for the Earth to rotate about its axis so that the
distant stars appear in the same position in the sky. A solar day is the time it takes for the Earth
to rotate about its axis so that the Sun appears in the same position in the sky. The sidereal day is
about 4 minutes shorter than the solar day.