{"id":14243,"date":"2025-06-03T16:21:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/?p=14243"},"modified":"2026-07-26T10:17:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T04:47:38","slug":"earth-solar-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/earth-solar-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth and Solar System"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<h2>Solar System<\/h2>\n<p>The Solar System consists of the Sun and all celestial bodies that orbit around it. It includes eight planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other space objects. The Sun is the centre of the Solar System and provides light and energy. The planets move around the Sun in fixed paths called orbits. Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet with life.<\/p>\n<h3>Elliptical Orbit<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All planets revolve around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.<\/li>\n<li>An ellipse has two foci and two radius vectors.<\/li>\n<li>A radius vector is the line joining a focus to the circumference of the ellipse.<\/li>\n<li>In an ellipse, the sum of both radius vectors remains constant.<\/li>\n<li>A reduction in the length of one radius vector increases the length of the other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Kepler&#8217;s Laws of Planetary Motion<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kepler propounded three laws regarding planetary motion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Kepler&#8217;s First Law<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>The orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the foci.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Kepler&#8217;s Second Law<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>The line joining a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Kepler&#8217;s Third Law<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>The square of a planet&#8217;s sidereal period is proportional to the cube of its mean distance from the Sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Perihelion<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kepler&#8217;s first law states that the Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.<\/li>\n<li>An elliptical orbit means the Earth periodically moves closer to and farther from the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>Perihelion is the point where the Earth is closest to the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>Perihelion occurs on <strong>4 January<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>At perihelion, the Earth is approximately <strong>91.5 million statute miles<\/strong> from the Sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Aphelion<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An elliptical orbit means the Earth periodically moves closer to and farther from the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>Aphelion is the point where the Earth is farthest from the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>Aphelion occurs on <strong>3 July<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>At aphelion, the Earth is approximately <strong>94.6 million statute miles<\/strong> from the Sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Speed of Revolution of the Earth<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kepler&#8217;s second law states that the radius vector sweeps out equal areas in equal time.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth&#8217;s speed varies with its distance from the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth moves fastest near perihelion.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth&#8217;s movement slows as it approaches aphelion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Plane of the Ecliptic and Equinoctial Plane<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The plane of the ecliptic is the orbital plane of all major planets around the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth also revolves around the Sun in the plane of the ecliptic.<\/li>\n<li>The equinoctial plane is also known as the equatorial plane.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth&#8217;s spin axis is tilted by <strong>23\u00bd\u00b0<\/strong> from the perpendicular.<\/li>\n<li>The equatorial plane is perpendicular to the Earth&#8217;s spin axis.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth&#8217;s spin axis makes an angle of <strong>66\u00bd\u00b0<\/strong> with the plane of the ecliptic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Obliquity of the Ecliptic<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The planes of the ecliptic and equinoctial make an angle of <strong>23\u00bd\u00b0<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>This angle is called the <strong>Obliquity of the Ecliptic<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>It is the reason for the changing seasons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Declination<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Declination is the angle between the equinoctial (equatorial) plane and the position of the Sun.<\/li>\n<li>It represents the angular distance of the Sun above or below the celestial equator.<\/li>\n<li>Declination is the celestial equivalent of latitude.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Declination of the Sun<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination varies from <strong>23.5\u00b0 North<\/strong> to <strong>23.5\u00b0 South<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination changes over a one-year period.<\/li>\n<li>Daylight duration and seasons depend on:\n<ul>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination.<\/li>\n<li>The observer&#8217;s latitude.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Solstice<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solstice literally means <strong>&#8220;Sun standing still.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>At a solstice, the Sun reaches its maximum northerly or southerly declination.<\/li>\n<li>The greatest difference between the lengths of day and night occurs during the solstices.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s day-to-day position changes the least during the solstices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Summer and Winter Solstice<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Winter Solstice:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Occurs on <strong>21 December<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination is <strong>23\u00bd\u00b0 South<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Summer Solstice:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Occurs on <strong>21\/22 June<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination is <strong>23\u00bd\u00b0 North<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hours of Daylight<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The variation in daylight hours is caused by the annual change in the Sun&#8217;s declination.<\/li>\n<li>The Earth&#8217;s axial tilt is responsible for changing daylight hours.<\/li>\n<li>Continuous daylight or darkness for whole days occurs at high latitudes.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun may not rise or set beyond <strong>66\u00bd\u00b0 North and South<\/strong> latitudes.<\/li>\n<li>The minimum daily variation in daylight occurs near the solstices.<\/li>\n<li>The maximum daily variation in daylight occurs near the equinoxes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Equinox<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Equinox means <strong>&#8220;equal night.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>It occurs when the Sun is directly over the equator.<\/li>\n<li>Day and night are nearly equal in duration during the equinoxes.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun&#8217;s declination is <strong>0\u00b0<\/strong> during an equinox.<\/li>\n<li>The greatest day-to-day change in the Sun&#8217;s position occurs during the equinoxes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Vernal and Autumnal Equinox<\/h3>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/page-show\/general-navigation\/g21-solar-system-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vernal Equinox:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Occurs on <strong>20\/21 March<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun crosses the equator from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Autumnal Equinox:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Occurs on <strong>22\/23 September<\/strong> each year.<\/li>\n<li>The Sun crosses the equator from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Solar System The Solar System consists of the Sun and all celestial bodies that orbit around it. It includes eight planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other space objects. The Sun is the centre of the Solar System and provides light and energy. The planets move around the Sun in fixed paths called orbits. Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet with life. Elliptical Orbit All planets revolve around the Sun in an elliptical orbit. An ellipse has two foci and two radius vectors. A&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[324],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cpl-atpl-general-navigation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16639,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14243\/revisions\/16639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibexaviation.com\/pilot-training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}