ecliptic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the great circle on the celestial sphere representing the Sun's apparent yearly path

   The planets appear close to the ecliptic because their orbits lie in nearly the same plane.

2. 2
   noun

   the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun

   The comet's orbit is steeply inclined to the ecliptic.

3. 3
   adj

   relating to the ecliptic or to eclipses

   The astronomer calculated the object's ecliptic longitude.

From Late Latin eclipticus and Greek ekleiptikos, 'of an eclipse,' from ekleipein, 'fail to appear.' Eclipses occur when the Moon crosses the Sun's apparent path, giving the ecliptic its name.

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