[Huebolt]

Now I see, it's obvious! It's the coriolis force due to the rotation of the GALAXY! The same as water spinning down the drain due to the earth's rotation.

Now...why does the galaxy spin? Rotation of the Universe? Why does the Universe spin. Never mind.

[ShadowAce]

It would be interesting to be able to calculate exactly how fast we are moving in relation to an absolutely inert point.

ie--the rotation of the planet, combined with our orbit around the Sun, combined with the Solar System's orbit in the Milky Way, combined with the Milky Way's movement in the Universe.....