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nutation in astronomy, a slight wobbling motion of the earth's axis. The causes of nutation are similar to those of the precession of the equinoxes , involving the varying attraction of the moon on the earth's equatorial bulge. However, the period of the motion is only 18.6 years, the same as that of the precession of the moon's nodes, as opposed to the nearly 26,000-year period of the precession of the equinoxes. Nutation was discovered by the English astronomer James Bradley in 1728 but was not explained until 20 years later.

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nutation

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Â© A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

nutation (new-tay-shŏn) n. the act of nodding the head.

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A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Â© A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

nutation Irregularities in the orbital motion of the Earth (or other planets) superimposed on the precession of its axis. The dominant nutation of the Earth's axis has an 18.6-year periodicity.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "nutation." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "nutation." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-nutation.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "nutation." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-nutation.html

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