The ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun takes across the sky over the course of a year. It represents the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun and is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to the Celestial Equator. This tilt is responsible for the changing seasons as the Earth orbits the Sun. In astronomy, the ecliptic is also important for understanding the positions of the planets and other celestial bodies. The Zodiac constellations are located along the ecliptic, making it a key reference point for both navigation and astrology.