Ecliptic

The great circle formed by the intersection of the plane of the Ecliptic with the Celestial Sphere. The apparent path the Sun (and, approximately that of the planets) as seen against the stars. Since the plane of the Earth's equator is inclined at 23.5 degrees to that of its orbit, the ecliptic is inclined to the celestial equator by the same angle. The ecliptic intersects the celestial equator at the two equinoxes.