Summary
Defines the ecliptic — the apparent path of the sun across the sky over the course of a year — and explains how this relates to Earth's orbital plane and why all the planets appear near this same path.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
- What is the ecliptic? Why does the sun appear to move through different constellations over a year?
- Why do all the planets appear near the same line in the night sky?
- What is the relationship between the ecliptic and Earth's tilt?
- Why does the ecliptic appear at different angles depending on where on Earth you are?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: ecliptic, orbital plane, apparent path, tilt, planet, constellation.
Try it: Go outside at night (or use a star-map app) and identify three planets visible. Notice they are all near the same line in the sky. That line is the ecliptic. Describe what you see and why the planets line up.