A system that uses the plane of the ecliptic as a reference plane. Ecliptic coordinates of objects with respect to the center of Earth, known as geocentric ecliptic coordinates, are given in terms of celestial latitude (the perpendicular distance of the orbit from the ecliptic in angular measure) and celestial longitude (the angular distance along the ecliptic between the plane through the object and the vernal equinox). Ecliptic coordinates referred to the center of the Sun, known as heliocentric ecliptic coordinates, are given in terms of heliocentric latitude and heliocentric longitude.
Related category• CELESTIAL MECHANICS
Home • About • Copyright © The Worlds of David Darling • Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy • Contact