This astronomical map image could be re-created using vector graphics as an SVG file. This has several advantages; see Commons:Media for cleanup for more information. If an SVG form of this image is available, please upload it and afterwards replace this template with {{vector version available|new image name}}.
It is recommended to name the SVG file “Earths orbit and ecliptic.svg”—then the template Vector version available (or Vva) does not need the new image name parameter.
Licensing
I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following licenses:
to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled GNU Free Documentation License.http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.htmlGFDLGNU Free Documentation Licensetruetrue
You may select the license of your choice.
The categories of this image need checking. You can do sohere.
Please remove redundant categories and try to put this image in the most specific category/categories.
You can remove this template by clicking here (or on the first line).
I’m not an expert (I came here to see what “ecliptic” meant), but based upon the article (e.g., “The ecliptic is the apparent path of the Sun on the celestial sphere” and “The ecliptic is the path the Sun appears to trace through the stars”), it appears to me that the error in this picture is that they’re showing a small depiction of the “earth revolves around the sun” viewpoint within the “sun revolves around the earth” viewpoint. The former should be removed and the sun should be shown to be on the “great circle,” the circle on which (per the “sun revolves around the earth” viewpoint) the Sun appears to move as it “orbits the Earth.” Trying to illustrate two conflicting ideas in a drawing presented as representing one of those two ideas is counter-productive to the use of a drawing to help clarify the point.
I would add that it’s not clear to say that “The ecliptic is the apparent path of the Sun on the celestial sphere.” That’s only the apparent path if your presumption is that the earth and stars are stationary and the sun is revolving around the earth. It’s been quite a while since that was the first thought that entered one’s mind as the explanation for the sun’s movement across the sky, so that isn’t a description that quickly conveys the desired idea to the modern reader. Given that I'm not an expert on the subject and might be missing something, however, I hesitate to just jump in and edit someone else's article. I'm just adding comments that may help others figure this out in less time.
Captions
Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents
{{Information |Description=Diagram of Earth's orbit, showing ecliptic plane, ecliptic poles, celestial equator, and celestial poles on the celestial sphere |Date=19 Mar 2012 |Source={{own}} |Author= ~~~~ }}