An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A quasi-periodic path resembling a → Lissajous figure around the L1 or L2 → Lagrangian points of a two-body system. Lissajous orbits, resulting from a combination of planar and vertical components, are used by certain space telescopes (such as → WMAP, → Planck Satellite, and
→ Herschel Satellite) that are required to be in a stable position relative to the Earth and Sun while making long-term observations.

See also: → Lissajous figure; → orbit.