eccentric orbit
Non-circular planetary trajectory
An eccentric orbit is an elliptical path around a celestial body that deviates significantly from circular.
The more elongated the ellipse, the higher the eccentricity—comets often have highly eccentric orbits, swinging close to the sun then far out into space.
Pluto's eccentric orbit occasionally brings it closer to the sun than Neptune.
- gravitational forceAttraction between masses
- gravitational pullAttractive force between masses
- planetStar-orbiting spherical body
- cometIcy orbiting body
- moonNatural planetary satellite
perturbation · tidal forces · Pluto · outer planets · asteroid · Mercury · inclination · angular momentum · binary star system · escape velocity · slingshot effect · resonance · deep space · Sedna · star · Newtonian mechanics · conic sections · apsidal precession
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