ecliptic
See also: eclíptic
English
Alternative forms
- ecliptick (obsolete)
Etymology
So named because an eclipse can occur only when the Moon lies on this plane.
Pronunciation
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Noun
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
Earth's orbital plane
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Adjective
ecliptic (not comparable)
- Relating to an eclipse or the ecliptic.