The solar apex, or the Apex of the Sun's Way, refers to the direction that the Sun travels with respect to the Local Standard of Rest. This is not to be confused with the Sun's apparent motion through the constellations of the zodiac, which is illusory - this supposed motion is actually caused by the Earth revolving around the Sun.
The solar apex is in the constellation of Hercules, southwest of the star Vega. There are several coordinates for the solar apex. The visual coordinates (as obtained by visual observation of the apparent motion) is right ascension (RA) 18h 28m 0s and declination (dec) of 30° North (in galactic coordinates: 56.24° longitude, 22.54° latitude). The radioastronomical position is RA 18h 03m 50.2s and dec 30° 00? 16.8? (galactic coordinates: 58.87° longitude, 17.72° latitude). The evaluation of movement of Solar system within local neighborhood is involved, look at Talk page for some actual links.
For more than 30 years prior to 1986 the speed of the Sun towards the solar apex was taken to be about 20 km/s but more recent results give a smaller velocity component in the direction toward galactic longitude 90°, reducing the speed to about 13.4 km/s. This speed is not to be confused with the orbital speed of the Sun around the Galactic center, which is about 220 km/s and is included in the movement of the Local Standard of Rest. Thus the Sun gains distance towards the apex at about 1/13 its orbital speed. The sun's motion in the Milky Way is not confined to the galactic plane; it also shifts ("bobs") up and down with respect to the plane over millions of years.
The nature and extent of the solar motion was first demonstrated by William Herschel in 1783, who also first determined the direction for the solar apex to Lambda Herculis, only 10° away from today's accepted position.
The solar antapex, the direction opposite of the solar apex, is located near the star Zeta Canis Majoris.
Video Solar apex
Gallery
- Animations of star motions around apex and antapex
Maps Solar apex
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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