equatorial plane

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the plane passing through the equator of the earth or another celestial body.

Word History and Origins

Origin of equatorial plane¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Jovian polar regions are not visible from Earth owing to Jupiter’s low axial tilt, and were poorly characterized by previous missions because the trajectories of these missions did not venture far from Jupiter’s equatorial plane.

From Nature

Since November, the probe has been climbing higher relative to Saturn’s equatorial plane, providing a new vantage point on the planet’s outer rings.

From Nature

Most are slightly inclined relative to that midline, moving above their sun’s equatorial plane at one part of their orbit and below it at another.

From Time

When a charged particle bounces from one magnetic pole to the other, it must cross the equatorial plane of Saturn.

From Literature

The Earth orbits the sun more or less in the flat, staying roughly in the sun’s equatorial plane.

From Time