Precession Of The Equinoxes

The gradual westward shift (about 50″ each year) of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic due to the rotational movement of the poles of Earth’s axis. This phenomena creates an increasing difference in the tropical (based upon the ecliptic and the Sun’s ingress into the sign Aries) and the sidereal zodiacs (based upon constellations) of about 50″ each year. See also ayanamsa, equinox, precession. Tropical Zodiac, sidereal zodiac.