Sky science
Orbital Inclination
Direct answer
Orbital Inclination is the angle between an orbit’s plane and a stated reference plane.
It measures how strongly an orbital plane is tilted.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related
- Semimajor Axis, Orbital Eccentricity, Longitude of Ascending Node, Argument of Periapsis
It measures how strongly an orbital plane is tilted.
A scientific orientation to scale, light, or motion; the article supplies the precise definition.
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The story behind Orbital Inclination
Inclination became one of the classical elements used to orient an orbit in space.
A one-minute story
The Wandering Stars
How the moving planets were watched, named and found, and what a transit is.
Why Orbital Inclination matters
Orbital Inclination explains why bodies can pass north or south of an apparent alignment.
How to read Orbital Inclination
Always name the reference plane, such as the ecliptic or a planet’s equator.
Orbital Inclination in practice: an example
The Moon’s inclined orbit is why eclipses do not occur every month.
Where readings of Orbital Inclination go wrong
A small inclination does not guarantee a transit for every observer.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: Orbits and Kepler’s Laws - NASA explanation of orbital ellipses, orbital periods, and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Almanac Glossary - Definitions for astronomical coordinates, time, reference systems, and observable phenomena.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is Orbital Inclination?
Orbital Inclination is the angle between an orbit’s plane and a stated reference plane.
What do people get wrong about Orbital Inclination?
A small inclination does not guarantee a transit for every observer.
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