ecliptisch

The term "ecliptisch" originates from the Greek word "ekleiptikos," which means "to be abandoned" or "to be forsaken." In astronomy, the ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun traces out in the sky over the course of a year. It is the projection of the Earth's orbit onto the celestial sphere. The ecliptic is significant because all the planets, the Moon, and the Sun appear to move along this path. The ecliptic is inclined at an angle of about 23.5 degrees to the celestial equator, which is the projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. This inclination is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun. The ecliptic is divided into 12 constellations, each of which is associated with a zodiac sign. The ecliptic is also the basis for the ecliptic coordinate system, which is used to specify the positions of celestial objects. The ecliptic is an important reference point in astronomy and is used in various calculations and observations.