The Ecliptic plane is parallel to the Celestial Equator.

True

False

Can Not Say

None of the above

Correct Answer : False

Explanation : The Ecliptic plane is not parallel to the Celestial Equator. It is inclined to the Celestial Equator because the same side of the Earth doesn’t always face the Sun as the Earth rotates on a tilted axis. To account for that, the Ecliptic plane is inclined to the Celestial Equator.

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How many rotations are required to transform the ECI coordinate system to the perifocal system?

Correct Answer : Option (D) : 3

Explanation : The coordinate transformation from XYZ frame to X’Y’Z’ frame is carried out by a single rotation about one axis. The other two axes remain in the same plane. But to transform from the ECI coordinate system to the perifocal system, there have to be successive 3 rotations. The first rotation is about Z axis, second is through X’ axis and the final rotation is bout Z’’ axis.