orbital plane
Orbit's flat surface
An orbital plane is the flat geometric surface containing an object's path as it orbits another body.
Earth's orbital plane around the sun defines the ecliptic.
Satellites orbit in various planes depending on their purpose—geostationary satellites share Earth's equatorial plane, while polar-orbiting satellites cross both poles.
The moon's orbital plane is tilted about five degrees from Earth's.
Disposition toward something
- nodesPoints of connection
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
declination · eccentricity · longitude · Kepler · epoch · ephemeris · conjunction · opposition
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
- solar systemStar and orbiting bodies
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- planetary systemStar and its satellites
- asteroid beltPlanetary rubble orbit zone
Kuiper belt · accretion · nebula · gravity · binary star · exoplanet · comet · satellite
Celestial belt of signs
- solsticeDay of maximum tilt
- equinoxSun crosses celestial midline
- celestial sphereImaginary dome of stars
- sun pathSun's daily sky course
planetary alignment · horoscope · astrology · Aries · Taurus · Gemini · Cancer · Leo
Existing in one plane
- inclinedTending toward, tilted
- tiltedAngled from vertical
- perpendicularAt right angles
- parallelEquidistant at all points
angular · orientation · geometry · deviation · perturbation · obliquity · axial tilt · stability
inclination
Disposition toward something
- nodesPoints of connection
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
equator · declination · eccentricity · longitude · Kepler · epoch · ephemeris · conjunction · opposition · transit
galaxy
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
- solar systemStar and orbiting bodies
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- planetary systemStar and its satellites
asteroid belt · Kuiper belt · accretion · nebula · gravity · binary star · exoplanet · comet · satellite · moon
zodiac
Celestial belt of signs
- solsticeDay of maximum tilt
- equinoxSun crosses celestial midline
- celestial sphereImaginary dome of stars
sun path · planetary alignment · horoscope · astrology · Aries · Taurus · Gemini · Cancer · Leo · Virgo
coplanar
Existing in one plane
- inclinedTending toward, tilted
- tiltedAngled from vertical
- perpendicularAt right angles
parallel · angular · orientation · geometry · deviation · perturbation · obliquity · axial tilt · stability · configuration
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- eclipseseclipse, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, total eclipse, partial eclipse
- celestial eventssolar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meteor shower, eclipse, supernova
- lunar orbits
- Orbitalselectron shell, subshell, 2s, 3d, pi bond