ecliptic

The ecliptic is the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun. The ecliptic is also roughly where the moon and all other planets in the Solar system can be found (with the notable exception of Pluto), and it is close to the plane of the galaxy too - when you trace the Milky Way across the sky at night, you're looking along the ecliptic.

The ecliptic is to the orbit of the Earth's year as the equator is to the spin of the Earth's day.

E*clip"tic (?), n. [Cf. F. 'ecliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr. , prop. adj., of an eclipse, because in this circle eclipses of the sun and moon take place. See Ecliptic, a.]

1. Astron.

A great circle of the celestial sphere, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 23° 28·. It is the apparent path of the sun, or the real path of the earth as seen from the sun.

2. Geog.

A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, making an angle of 23° 28· with the equator; -- used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.

© Webster 1913.

E*clip"tic, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr. . See Eclipse.]

1.

Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.

2.

Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses.

Lunar ecliptic limit Astron., the space of 12° on the moon's orbit from the node, within which, if the moon happens to be at full, it will be eclipsed. -- Solar ecliptic limit, the space of 17° from the lunar node, within which, if a conjunction of the sun and moon occur, the sun will be eclipsed.

© Webster 1913.