What does "Orbital Precession" mean?

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Orbital precession is the gradual shift in the position of an orbiting object over time. This means that the path an object takes around another can change. It happens because of different forces acting on the moving object, like gravity and other influences.

In space, when one body orbits another, its orbit can be affected by factors like the presence of nearby masses or even energy from the universe. This leads to the orbit changing shape slightly or rotating in a way that may not be easy to see at first.

One example of this is when a planet orbits a star, and the path of the planet slowly rotates over many years. This can happen because of the combined effects of gravity from other planets or the expansion of space itself.

Understanding orbital precession helps scientists learn more about how objects move in space and the nature of the universe.