anomalistic year
astronomy
Quick Summary
Study the different ways of defining a year - a tropical year, a sidereal year, and the anomalistic year
Learn about the different definitions of a year: a tropical year, a sidereal year, and an anomalistic year.
The anomalistic year is the time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun, specifically from one perihelion (the point in its orbit closest to the Sun) to the next. This duration is approximately 365 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 53.1 seconds.12
This astronomical measurement is distinct from other definitions of a year, such as the solar year (based on the vernal equinox) or the sidereal year (based on the stars). The anomalistic year is also sometimes referred to as a periodical year.23
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