An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Either of the two points on the celestial sphere that are 90° above and below the plane of ecliptic. The north ecliptic pole lies in → Draco, and the south ecliptic pole in → Dorado. Due to → precession, the → celestial pole moves in a circle around the ecliptic poles once every 25,800 years.

See also: → ecliptic, → pole.