If I wanted to face the direction the Earth is moving in its orbit, where in the sky should I look?

Well..let's see. The ephemeris says that the heliocentric longitude and right ascension of the Sun is:


Month           Longitude         RA
--------------------------------------
January           280             18.7 h
March               0              0.0 h
June               90              6.0 h
September         180             12.0 h
December          270             18.0 h
..........................................
If we draw a circle showing the Earth's orbit with the Sun at the center and the Earth at the top and identify this as the June position, the direction to the Sun is '90 degrees ecliptic latitude and 6.0 H RA', the Earth as seen from the Sun is at 90+180 = 270 degrees and RA=18h. The direction the Earth is moving is counter clockwise as seen from this northern viewpoint, so it is moving towards an ecliptic longitude of 90+180+90 = 0 degrees, or 0h RA. My chart says this is towards the constellation of Pisces in June. In January, the same calculation from the above table says 280+180+90 = 280 - 90 = 190 degrees latitude or about 13.0 H RA. This is towards Virgo and the star Spica.
Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
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