An elliptical orbit is the oval-shaped path that celestial bodies, like planets or moons, follow around a star or planet. Unlike a perfect circle, an elliptical orbit has two focal points, with the central body located at one focus. This shape causes varying distances between the orbiting body and the central body.
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An elliptical orbit is a type of orbital path that is oval-shaped rather than perfectly circular. In such orbits, the orbiting object, like a planet or satellite, moves around a central body, such as a star or planet, following a path with two focal points. The central body, such as the Sun for Earth, is positioned at one of these focal points. As a result, the distance between the orbiting body and the central body changes throughout the orbit, leading to variations in speed and gravitational forces. The elliptical shape of orbits is described by Kepler’s First Law of Planetary Motion and is common for most celestial bodies.