ecliptic (redirected from ecliptics)

ecliptic (ēklĭp`tĭk, ĭ–), the great circle on the celestial sphere 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. The two points at which the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator are the equinoxes. 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.

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ecliptic

Great 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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ecliptic

1. Astronomy

a. the great circle on the celestial sphere representing the apparent annual path of the sun relative to the stars. It is inclined at 23.45? to the celestial equator. The poles of the ecliptic lie on the celestial sphere due north and south of the plane of the ecliptic

b. (as modifier): the ecliptic plane

2. an equivalent great circle, opposite points of which pass through the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, on the terrestrial globe

3. of or relating to an eclipse