# Ecliptic line plot in a map

Is there any url that can give me data of ecliptic line that i can plot in a map. i.e i need earth's latitude and earth's longitude of ecliptic line for a specific time and date. Right now i only have Sun's declination data and its longitude, with which i can plot only one point, but ecliptic line is like sine wave as i read on the internet. How can i get the data of complete ecliptic line for a given day and time. I am kind of new to this, kindly apologise if my question is wrong and show me the right way.

• I think what you might be looking for is the "subsolar point", the point on Earth where the Sun is directly overhead. Google around for that and you should find several resources. Also, astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/13488 might help
– user21
Nov 22, 2019 at 2:39
• @barrycarter thanks for the reply, Sub solar point, which is only one point, is what i have right now, i want to have the complete ecliptic line that can be plotted on earth. Nov 22, 2019 at 2:52
• Not sure this answers your question: every point between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn will be a subsolar point sometime during the year. In other words, every location between those two lines will have the sun overhead at least once a year (and usually twice)
– user21
Nov 22, 2019 at 3:48
• If you know the subsolar point, then you have everything you need to know to plot the entire ecliptic. Use my equation to find the longitude where the ecliptic crosses the equator. Once that is known, all other points can be plotted for every X degrees of longitude. Note that I am updating my original answer. Nov 23, 2019 at 14:07
• The projection of the ecliptic on the Earth changes minute by minute as the Earth rotates "inside" the plane. Out of curiosity what is the purpose of projecting the ecliptic at a specific date and time? Nov 24, 2019 at 17:18

The ecliptic is a plane that is inclined 23.43 degrees (approximately, insert your more accurate value as needed). One position on the ecliptic is 0 hours Right Ascension, 0 degrees Declination (0,0). If you plot that on the Earth at the date and time you have, the rest of the ecliptic's path on the Earth can be calculated as follows: $$\tan(23.43) \sin(longitude-longitude_{equatorcrossing}) = \tan(latitude)$$
where $$longitude_{equatorcrossing}$$ is the longitude where the ecliptic at 0 hours Right Ascension crosses the equator.