galactic plane

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the plane of the galactic equator.

---

galactic plane British  

noun

1. the plane passing through the spiral arms of the Galaxy

---

Etymology

Origin of galactic plane

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The right panel shows a side view, cutting vertically through the galactic plane.

From Science Daily

But because the signals emanate from the crowded galactic plane, optical telescopes could not see which of many stars might be producing them.

From Science Magazine

In recent months, however, radio astronomers have spotted LPTs outside the galactic plane.

From Science Magazine

"Our new discovery lies far off the Galactic Plane, so there are only a handful of stars nearby, and we're now certain one star system, in particular, is generating the radio waves."

From Science Daily

By studying magnesium atom emission signals, the team was also able to map the morphology of these winds, which appear as cones of matter perpendicularly ejected from both sides of the galactic plane.

From Science Daily