Sidereal Year to Shake Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

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

From:

Sidereal Year

To:

Shake

How to Use the Calculator:

Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Sidereal Year).
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 Year to Shake

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

Formula:

1 Sidereal Year = 3.1558e+15 shakes

Example Calculation:

Convert 60 sidereal years: 60 × 3.1558e+15 = 1.8935e+17 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 Year and a Shake?

A sidereal year is the time it takes for the Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun relative to the distant, fixed stars. It represents the true orbital period of the Earth. Its duration is approximately 365.256363 mean solar days (or 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, 9.76 seconds).

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 Year 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 Year and Shake

The concept of the sidereal year emerged from ancient astronomers observing the Sun's apparent path against the background constellations (the ecliptic). They noticed that the Sun returned to the same position relative to specific stars after a consistent period. This stellar-based measurement was distinct from the tropical year (based on the seasons or equinoxes), which was more relevant for agriculture and calendars. Accurately determining the sidereal year was crucial for understanding the Earth's true orbital motion and for long-term astronomical predictions.

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 years and shakes

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

Common Uses for sidereal years

The sidereal year is primarily used in:

Astronomy & Astrophysics: For calculations involving the long-term orbital mechanics of the Earth and other celestial bodies within the solar system. It's fundamental for understanding the actual time it takes for planets to orbit the Sun.
Celestial Mechanics: Used in models predicting the positions of stars and planets over extended periods.
Defining Orbital Periods: Serves as the standard measure for the orbital period of Earth and is used comparatively for other planets.

It is generally not used for civil calendars, which are based on the tropical year to keep alignment with the seasons.

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 Year (sidereal year)

How long is a sidereal year in days?

A sidereal year is approximately 365.256363 mean solar days, which translates to about 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.76 seconds.

What is the difference between a sidereal year and a tropical year?

A sidereal year measures the Earth's orbit relative to distant stars (one complete 360° revolution). A tropical year measures the time between successive vernal equinoxes (the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere). Due to the precession of the equinoxes (a slow wobble in Earth's axis), the tropical year is slightly shorter (about 20 minutes) than the sidereal year (approx. 365.24219 days).

Why do calendars use the tropical year instead of the sidereal year?

Civil calendars, like the Gregorian calendar, are designed to keep the seasons occurring at roughly the same time each year. Since seasons are determined by the Earth's tilt and its position relative to the Sun (marked by equinoxes and solstices), the tropical year is the relevant measure for aligning the calendar with seasonal changes. Using the sidereal year would cause the seasons to gradually drift through the calendar months over centuries.

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 Year to Shake

Sidereal Year (sidereal year)	Shake (shake)
1	3,155,814,950,400,000
5	15,779,074,752,000,000
10	31,558,149,504,000,000
25	78,895,373,760,000,000
50	157,790,747,520,000,000
100	315,581,495,040,000,000
500	1,577,907,475,200,000,000
1,000	3,155,814,950,400,000,000

All Time Conversions

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