elliptical orbit
Stretched circular trajectory
An elliptical orbit is the oval-shaped path one celestial body traces around another, with the larger body at one of the ellipse's two focal points rather than at the center.
Earth's orbit around the sun is slightly elliptical, bringing it closer in January than July.
Most orbits in nature are elliptical; perfectly circular orbits are theoretical ideals.
- planetStar-orbiting spherical body
- planetary motionMovement of worlds around stars
- solar systemStar and orbiting bodies
- cometIcy orbiting body
- apsidal precessionRotation of orbital orientation
eccentricity · moon · star · aphelion · focus · conic section · two-body problem · gravitational pull · sun · energy conservation · Tycho Brahe · angular momentum · cosmic dance · deep space · tidal forces · parabola · slingshot · swing by
- motionmotion, movement, velocity, speed, momentum
- gravitygravity, graviton, gravity well, gravitational pull, gravity wave
- orbit termstrajectory, satellite, revolution, rotation, apogee
- Space Zonesouter space, deep space, exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere
- orbital mechanicsorbital mechanics, eccentricity, inclination, apogee, perigee
- lunar orbits