Sidereal Day to Shake Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

Convert sidereal days to shakes with our free online time converter.

From:

Sidereal Day

To:

Shake

How to Use the Calculator:

Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Sidereal Day).
The converted value in Shake will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Time category.
Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.

How to Convert Sidereal Day to Shake

Converting Sidereal Day to Shake involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

1 Sidereal Day = 8.6164e+12 shakes

Example Calculation:

Convert 60 sidereal days: 60 × 8.6164e+12 = 5.1698e+14 shakes

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

What is a Sidereal Day and a Shake?

A sidereal day is the time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis relative to the distant, fixed stars. It is approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.091 seconds long. This is slightly shorter than the 24-hour solar day, which is based on the Earth's rotation relative to the Sun.

A Shake is an informal unit of time equal to 10 nanoseconds (10 ns), or 10⁻⁸ seconds. It is primarily used in nuclear physics and astrophysics to measure the timing of events in nuclear reactions and related phenomena.

Note: The Sidereal Day is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Shake belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Sidereal Day and Shake

The concept of the sidereal day originates from ancient astronomy. Early astronomers observed that the stars appeared to return to the same position in the sky slightly earlier each day when measured against the Sun's cycle. This discrepancy led to the understanding that the Earth's rotation period relative to the background stars (sidereal) was different from its rotation period relative to the Sun (solar). Accurate measurement of the sidereal day became crucial for precise astronomical observations and timekeeping, allowing astronomers to predict the positions of celestial objects.

The term "Shake" originated during the Manhattan Project, the World War II effort to develop the first nuclear weapons. Nuclear chain reactions happen extremely quickly, and physicists needed a convenient, short unit of time to discuss the timing of events within these reactions. Ten nanoseconds was chosen as a practical order of magnitude for many processes involved. The name itself is informal, reputedly derived from the expression "two shakes of a lamb's tail," implying a very short duration.

Common Uses for sidereal days and shakes

Explore the typical applications for both Sidereal Day (imperial/US) and Shake (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for sidereal days

The sidereal day and sidereal time are primarily used in:

Astronomy: To point telescopes accurately at celestial objects. Astronomical observatories use sidereal clocks to know when specific stars or galaxies will be overhead or in a particular position for observation.
Astrophysics: For calculations involving celestial mechanics and the timing of astronomical events.
Satellite Tracking: Used in calculations for positioning and tracking artificial satellites in Earth orbit.
Geodesy: For precise measurements related to the Earth's rotation and orientation in space.

It is generally not used for civil timekeeping, which relies on the solar day.

Common Uses for shakes

The Shake is almost exclusively used in specific technical fields:

Nuclear Physics: Measuring the time intervals between successive neutron generations in a nuclear chain reaction.
Astrophysics: Discussing timescales relevant to certain high-energy astrophysical events.
Particle Physics: Occasionally used in experiments involving very short-lived particles or interactions.
Laser Physics: Sometimes used in contexts involving very short laser pulses.

It is not used for everyday time measurements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Sidereal Day (sidereal day)

How long is a sidereal day in standard time?

A mean sidereal day is approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.091 seconds (or about 86,164.091 seconds). This is roughly 3 minutes and 56 seconds shorter than a standard 24-hour solar day.

Why is a sidereal day shorter than a solar day?

A sidereal day measures Earth's rotation relative to distant stars. A solar day measures rotation relative to the Sun. As the Earth rotates, it also orbits the Sun. After one full rotation relative to the stars (one sidereal day), the Earth has moved slightly along its orbit. It needs to rotate a little bit further (about 1 degree, taking nearly 4 minutes) to bring the Sun back to the same apparent position in the sky (completing a solar day).

Is sidereal time the same everywhere on Earth?

No, just like solar time, local sidereal time depends on your longitude. At any given moment, different locations on Earth will have different local sidereal times, corresponding to which part of the celestial sphere is currently crossing their local meridian. However, the duration of a sidereal day is the same everywhere.

About Shake (shake)

How long is a Shake in seconds?

One Shake is equal to 10 nanoseconds (10 ns), which is 10⁻⁸ seconds, or 0.00000001 seconds.

Where did the name "Shake" come from?

The name is an informal term coined during the Manhattan Project. It's believed to be a humorous reference to the phrase "in two shakes of a lamb's tail," signifying a very brief period, appropriate for the rapid events in nuclear reactions.

Is the Shake an SI unit?

No, the Shake is not part of the International System of Units (SI). The standard SI unit for time is the second (s). The Shake is a specialized, informal unit used within specific scientific communities for convenience.

Conversion Table: Sidereal Day to Shake

Sidereal Day (sidereal day)	Shake (shake)
1	8,616,409,100,000
5	43,082,045,500,000
10	86,164,091,000,000
25	215,410,227,500,000
50	430,820,455,000,000
100	861,640,910,000,000
500	4,308,204,550,000,000
1,000	8,616,409,100,000,000

All Time Conversions

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