ecliptic

ecliptic
—ecliptically, adv.
/i klip"tik/, n.
1. Astron.
a. the great circle formed by the intersection of the plane of the earth's orbit with the celestial sphere; the apparent annual path of the sun in the heavens.
b. an analogous great circle on a terrestrial globe.
2. Astrol. the great circle of the ecliptic, along which are located the 12 houses and signs of the zodiac.
adj. Also, ecliptical.
3. pertaining to an eclipse.
4. pertaining to the ecliptic.
[1350-1400; ME < ML ecliptica, fem. of eclipticus < Gk ekleiptikós, equiv. to ekleíp(ein) (see ECLIPSE) + -tikos -TIC]

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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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      in astronomy, the 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 the Earth around the Sun. The constellations of the zodiac are arranged along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is inclined about 23 1/2° to the plane of the celestial equator; the two points of intersection of the ecliptic and the plane mark the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.

      In the ecliptic system of astronomical coordinates, celestial longitude is measured in degrees east from the vernal equinox along the ecliptic. Celestial latitude is measured in degrees north (positive) or south (negative) from the ecliptic to the ecliptic poles. Each ecliptic pole is 23 1/2° from the corresponding celestial pole.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Ecliptic — E*clip tic, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr. ekleiptiko s. See {Eclipse}.] 1. Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses. [1913 Webster] {Lunar ecliptic limit} (Astron …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ecliptic — ECLÍPTIC, Ă ecliptici, ce, s.f., adj. 1. s.f. Orbită imaginară descrisă de soare în mişcarea lui anuală aparentă pe sfera cerească. 2. adj. Privitor la ecliptică (1), raportat la ecliptică. Coordonate ecliptice. – Din fr. écliptique. Trimis de… …   Dicționar Român

  • ecliptic — e*clip tic ([ e]*kl[i^]p t[i^]k), n. [Cf. F. [ e]cliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr. ekleiptiko s, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ecliptic — Astronomy ► NOUN ▪ a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun s apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can only occur when the moon crosses it. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ of eclipses or the ecliptic …   English terms dictionary

  • ecliptic — [i klip′tik, ēklip′tik] n. [ME ecliptik < ML ecliptica < LL ( linea) ecliptica < Gr ekleiptikos, of an eclipse] 1. the great circle on the celestial sphere intersecting the celestial equator at about 231/ 2° and representing the changing …   English World dictionary

  • ecliptic — late 14c., the circle in the sky followed by the Sun, from M.L. ecliptica, from L.L. (linea) ecliptica, from Gk. ekliptikos of an eclipse (see ECLIPSE (Cf. eclipse)). So called because eclipses happen only when the Moon is near the line. Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • Ecliptic — The ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun traces out in the sky during the year. As it appears to move in the sky in relation to the stars, the apparent path aligns with the planets throughout the course of the year. More accurately, it is… …   Wikipedia

  • ecliptic — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English ecliptik, from Late Latin ecliptica linea, literally, line of eclipses Date: 14th century of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse II. noun Date: 15th century the great circle of the celestial sphere… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ecliptic — noun 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… …   Wiktionary

  • ecliptic — e•clip•tic [[t]ɪˈklɪp tɪk[/t]] n. 1) astron. the great circle formed by the intersection of the plane of the earth s orbit with the celestial sphere; the apparent annual path of the sun in the heavens 2) astron. an analogous great circle on a… …   From formal English to slang

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