ecliptic

      See also eclíptic

      English

      Wikipedia has an article on:

      Wikipedia

      Alternative forms

      Etymology

      EB1911 - Volume 01 - Page 001 - 1.svg This entry lacks etymological information. If you are familiar with the origin of this term, please add it to the page as described here.

      Pronunciation

      • (UK) IPA: /ɪˈklɪp.tɪk/

      Noun

      ecliptic (plural ecliptics)

      1. (astronomy) The apparent 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. So named because an eclipse can occur only when the Moon lies on this plane.
      2. (geometry) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.

      Translations

      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 11 June 2013, at 11:44