What concept measures the angle between an object's orbital plane and the ecliptic?
Answer
inclination
Inclination quantifies the deviation of an orbiting body's path from a predetermined reference plane. In the context of objects within the solar system, this reference plane is conventionally the ecliptic—the plane defined by Earth's orbit around the Sun. A satellite or spacecraft has an inclination equal to zero degrees if its orbital plane lies perfectly flat within the ecliptic plane. Conversely, if the object approaches or departs from the inner solar system traveling perpendicular to the general plane of the planets, it will exhibit a high inclination angle relative to the ecliptic, indicating a significant vertical tilt to its path compared to the major planetary motions.
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