ZODIAC

Zodiac

In both astrology and historical astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets also remain close to the ecliptic, within the belt of the zodiac, which extends 8-9° north or south of the ecliptic, as measured in celestial latitude. Historically, these twelve divisions are called signs. Essentially, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude, and the position of the ...

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Zodiac
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

zodiac

Noun

  1. The belt-like region of the celestial sphere approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which thousands of years ago included the apparent path of the sun, moon, and planets.
  2. The twelve equal divisions of the astrological zodiacal region into signs, or houses, of the zodiac, each sign named after a constellation in this region.
  3. The belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year, the ecliptic.
  4. A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.
  5. Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: zodiac
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!