Nutation (from Latin nūtātiō 'nodding, swaying') is a rocking, swaying, or nodding motion in the axis of rotation of a largely axially symmetric object, such as a gyroscope, planet, or bullet in flight, or as an …

Nutation, in astronomy, a small irregularity in the precession of the equinoxes. Precession is the slow, toplike wobbling of the spinning Earth, with a period of about 25,772 years.

Mar 11, 2026 · Nutation is a small, rhythmic wobble in the axis of a spinning object. You’ll encounter the term most often in astronomy, where it describes a slight nodding motion of Earth’s rotational axis, …

Those who have studied the gyrations of a spinning top will recall that, in addition to precessing, a top may nutate, or nod up and down (Latin nutare, to nod), the amplitude and type of nutation depending …

Mar 1, 2013 · Nutation and precession are the periodic and long-term motion of the Earth's spin axis in space. The direction of the Earth's axis in space, shown in orange, changes over time with respect to …

Nutation is best described as a nodding or swaying motion of a spinning object’s axis of rotation. When a body spins, its rotational axis does not always point in a fixed direction; instead, it undergoes a small, …

More from Merriam-Webster on nutation Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nutation Love words? Need even more definitions? Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands …

Jan 8, 2026 · Nutation describes an oscillating motion derived from the Latin word nutare, meaning “to nod.” This concept applies to rotating systems across various scientific disciplines.

May 21, 2024 · Nutation is a word derived from the Latin nutare meaning to nod. It means a nodding, swaying, or rocking motion in an axis of rotation. The rotation may be of a symmetrical object, such …

In the case of the Earth, nutation is the periodic oscillation of the Earth's axis of rotation around its average position on the celestial sphere, due to the external forces of gravitational attraction between …