ecliptic

• Nom désignant le grand cercle de la sphère céleste représentant le trajet annuel apparent du Soleil, correspondant au plan de l'orbite terrestre autour du Soleil, incliné d'environ 23 degrés par rapport à l'équateur céleste.

A noun referring to the great circle on the celestial sphere that represents the apparent annual path of the Sun, corresponding to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun, which is inclined at an angle of about 23 degrees to the celestial equator.

1. Apparent path of the sunC2formalscientific

   The great circle on the celestial sphere representing the apparent annual path of the sun; the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun, making an angle of about 23.5 degrees with the celestial equator.

   Écliptique

   • The planets are always found near the ecliptic in the night sky.
   • Astronomers use the ecliptic as a reference plane for mapping solar system objects.
   • The sun's position on the ecliptic determines the seasons on Earth.