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Whereas the earth and the other planets are very close to the Sun, they are too far away from the constellations (groups of stars). The distances of stars are measured in terms of light years. Our earth is only five minutes away from the Sun.

The earth's axis of rotation is inclined at an angle of 23 1/2° to the ecliptic. Owing to the gravitational pull exerted on the equatorial bulge by the luminaries and this inclination, the earth revolves like a spinning top, its pole describing a great circle (the Precessional Arc) in space every 26,000 years (a Great Year). The notation is irregular and hence the variations in the lengths of Great Years from 23000 to 26000 solar years.

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