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ecliptic |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.04 sec. |
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ecliptic (ēklĭp`tĭk, ĭ–), the great circle on the celestial sphere celestial sphere, imaginary sphere of infinite radius with the earth at its center. It is used for describing the positions and motions of stars and other objects. ..... Click the link for more information. that lies in the plane of the earth's orbit (called the plane of the ecliptic). Because of the earth's yearly revolution around the sun, the sun appears to move in an annual journey through the heavens with the ecliptic as its path. The ecliptic is the principal axis in the ecliptic coordinate system ecliptic coordinate system, an astronomical coordinate system in which the principal coordinate axis is the ecliptic , the apparent path of the sun through the heavens. ..... Click the link for more information. . The two points at which the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator are the equinoxes equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. ..... Click the link for more information. . The obliquity of the ecliptic is the inclination of the plane of the ecliptic to the plane of the celestial equator, an angle of about 23 1-2°. The constellations through which the ecliptic passes are the constellations of the zodiac zodiac (zō`dēăk) [Gr. ..... Click the link for more information. . eclipticGreat circle that is the apparent path of the Sun among the constellations in the course of a year; from another viewpoint, the projection on the celestial sphere of the orbit of Earth around the Sun, which intersects the plane of the celestial equator at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The constellations of the zodiac are arranged along the ecliptic. |
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| Thus said, he turnd, and SATAN bowing low, As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, Where honour due and reverence none neglects, Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, Throws his steep flight with many an Aerie wheele, Nor staid, till on NIPHATES top he lights. It was after tea on a summer evening, and the conversation, which had roamed in a desultory, spasmodic fashion from golf clubs to the causes of the change in the obliquity of the ecliptic, came round at last to the question of atavism and hereditary aptitudes. Here palms, alpacas, and volcanoes; sun's disks and stars; ecliptics, horns-of-plenty, and rich banners waving, are in luxuriant profusion stamped; so that the precious gold seems almost to derive an added preciousness and enhancing glories, by passing through those fancy mints, so Spanishly poetic. |
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ecliptic
