ecliptic
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See also: eclíptic
Contents
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- ecliptick (obsolete)
Etymology[edit]
So named because an eclipse can occur only when the Moon lies on this plane.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
ecliptic (plural ecliptics)
- (astronomy) The apparent annual path of the Sun in the sky. More accurately, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the plane of the ecliptic, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun.
- (geometry) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.
Translations[edit]
Earth's orbital plane
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Adjective[edit]
ecliptic (not comparable)
- Relating to an eclipse or the ecliptic.