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Glite Dictionary
celestial orbit

celestial orbit

6.5
A path in space that a planet or moon follows around a bigger object such as a star
  • noun
  • /səˈlɛstʃəl ˈɔrbɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : órbita celestial
  • The moon follows a predictable celestial orbit around the Earth, completing a full cycle every 27.3 days.

Examples

  • Astronomers use precise calculations to determine the celestial orbit of satellites around the Earth.

  • The scientists studied the celestial orbit of the newly discovered exoplanet to understand its behavior in relation to its star.

  • The nickel will not bend nor deform, and will stay somewhere in this celestial orbit versus flying across the room to parts unknown, or becoming one with the drill bit.

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Synonyms

orbit
vscelestial orbit
  • Specialized
378 4.0

A curved path that a planet or satellite follows around another body

is the specific usually elliptical path during a body's revolution around another
orbital motion
vscelestial orbit
  • Specialized
1 5.3

Movement of one object around another in space, like a planet around a star

focuses on the path as a usually elliptical route rather than the motion

Surface Forms

celestial orbit singular
celestial orbits plural

Morphology

celestial + orbit

The meaning is transparently composed from 'celestial' (relating to stars/planets) and 'orbit' (a curved path), so the phrase simply denotes the path taken by a celestial body. This is a regular noun + noun modifier pattern found in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Celestial orbit creates a simple picture: the word orbit is a path, so imagine a planet, moon, or satellite moving again and again on the same route around a larger body, like a car on a round track. That's why it means 'the path' a body follows as it goes around a star or planet.