A
great circle, also known as an
orthodrome or
Riemannian circle, of a
sphere is the intersection of the sphere and a
plane which passes through the center point of the sphere. This partial case of a
circle of a sphere is opposed to a
small circle, the intersection of the sphere and a plane which does not pass through the center. Any
diameter of any great circle coincides with a diameter of the sphere, and therefore all great circles have the same
circumference as each other, and have the same center as the sphere. A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on any given sphere. Every
circle in
Euclidean 3-space is a great circle of exactly one sphere.