Found a site containing a graph of the equation of time.
If the graph was from yr 1998 will it still be OK to use today. Does the equation of time vary much from year to year?
Thank you
Mike
I'm not quite sure about what you are asking.
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "time variation year" to get these possible sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~twatts/sunrise/sunrise.html
http://wvms.nrl.navy.mil/POAM/sh_o3/fig9.html
(Broken Link Removed)
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
The equation of time is a mathematical model that represents the difference between solar time and civil time. It accounts for the variations in the Earth's orbit and axial tilt, which cause the length of a solar day to vary throughout the year. The equation of time calculates the offset between a clock set to civil time (like a regular wristwatch) and a clock that measures the true solar time.
To answer your question, the equation of time does vary from year to year, and it can be different for different days within the same year. This variation is caused by factors such as leap years, the Earth's elliptical orbit, and the tilt of the Earth's axis. As a result, the graph of the equation of time for the year 1998 may not be accurate for today, as it would not account for the changes in the Earth's orbit and axial tilt that have occurred since then.
To obtain an accurate and up-to-date graph of the equation of time, you can refer to reliable sources like scientific publications or websites that provide astronomical data. These sources often provide tools or tables that allow you to calculate the equation of time for a specific date or range of dates.