3 Astronomy questions here.
1. Why is Earth's orbit considered to be elliptical?
2. What happens if the Foci gets closer together
3. What happens if the Foci gets farther apart?
1. Why is Earth's orbit considered to be elliptical?
2. What happens if the Foci gets closer together
3. What happens if the Foci gets farther apart?
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1. *All* simple and closed orbits are elliptical. That is what the simplest conditions of orbital mechanics yield a stable orbit to be. Circle is a SPECIAL CASE of an ellipse.
2. you get a closer-to-circular orbit. Like that which Venus and Earth have.
3. you get a more eccentric orbit. Like that which Pluto has, or even more extreme, like that which Halley's Comet has.
2. you get a closer-to-circular orbit. Like that which Venus and Earth have.
3. you get a more eccentric orbit. Like that which Pluto has, or even more extreme, like that which Halley's Comet has.