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sidereal period
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sidereal period

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sidereal period, the time required for a celestial body within the solar system to complete one revolution with respect to the fixed stars—i.e., as observed from some fixed point outside the system. The sidereal period of a planet can be calculated if its synodic period (the time for it to return to the same position relative to the Sun and Earth) is known; the sidereal period of the Moon or an artificial satellite of Earth is the time needed for it to return to the same position against the background of stars. See also synodic period.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.