Question

What is represented by the figure‐eight analemma?

A) an eight‐fold intermediate analytical theorem (lemma) pertaining to all astronomical motions

B) a composite snapshot of the Sun taken from the same location at the same time of day over one year

C) a positional map of Earthʹs wandering north celestial pole projected into the sky over the course of the
next 10,000 years

D) the time‐lapse photograph of a planet (e.g., Mars) as it undergoes retrograde motion

Answer 1

The figure-eight analemma represents a composite snapshot of the Sun's position in the sky over a year, resulting from the tilt of Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun.

Step-by-step explanation:

The figure-eight analemma represents a composite snapshot of the Sun taken from the same location at the same time of day over one year.

As the Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt of its axis causes the ecliptic (the path of the Sun across the celestial sphere) to be tilted relative to the celestial equator. This tilt and the changing position of the Earth in its orbit result in the apparent movement of the Sun in the sky over the course of a year.

The figure-eight shape of the analemma is caused by two factors: the eccentricity of Earth's orbit (which causes the Sun to move faster in some parts of the year) and the tilt of the Earth's axis (which causes the Sun to be higher or lower in the sky at different times).