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 equator. This path is important for understanding the changing positions of celestial bodies and the seasons on Earth. In addition to the Sun, the ecliptic also serves as a reference for the positions of the Moon and the planets in our solar system. The zodiac constellations are located along this path, making the ecliptic significant in both astronomy and astrology.