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Ecliptic vs Zodiac - What's the difference?

ecliptic | zodiac |

In astronomy terms the difference between ecliptic and zodiac

is that ecliptic is 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 while zodiac is the belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year, the ecliptic.

ecliptic

English

(wikipedia ecliptic)

Alternative forms

* ecliptick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (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.
  • (geometry) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.

    • zodiac

    English

    (wikipedia zodiac)

    Alternative forms

    * zodiack (obsolete) * Zodiac

    Noun

    (s)
  • (astrology) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which thousands of years ago included the apparent path of the sun, moon, and planets.
  • (astrology) The twelve equal divisions of the astrological zodiacal region into signs, or houses, of the zodiac, each sign named after a constellation in this region.
  • (astronomy) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year, the ecliptic.
  • (countable) A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.
  • Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.
  • * 1998 , Sylvia Sikundar and Barbara DuMoulin, Celebrating Our Cultures , Pembroke Publishers Limited, ISBN 978-1-55138-102-2, page 58:
    • Discussing both Chinese and Western zodiacs might be a prewriting activity.

    Derived terms

    * zodiacal * zodiacal light * zodiac sign

    See also

    * ecliptic