eccentricity = distance between foci
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length of major axis
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None of the planets orbit the sun perfectly in a circle, there is a degree of deviation from this perfect circle called eccentricity. The higher the eccentricity (more more the eccentric the orbit is) the further away from this perfect circle the orbit is. The planet that deviates most from a perfect circle, having the highest eccentricity, is Neptune. Neptune also has the highest axial tilt, tilted over onto its side as it orbits the sun.
The Earth's orbit is almost circular. Technically, the "eccentricity" of the orbit is about 0.0167.
Venus has the orbit closest to a circular orbit. Neptune's is not too bad also. Look for low' eccentricity' rating, the closer to zero the more circular.
Formula: BeAs2
Eccentric means, literally, "off center". The term originated with astronomy. Later, it came to be used in mechanics, to describe a wheel or gear which rotates about an axle which is not at its center. (To understand how eccentric motion can be useful. See animation of a automobile cam in related link below.) Around 1620, the term was first applied figuratively, to describe a thing which was odd or unusual. Around 1832, it began to be used to describe a person with unusual ideas or behavior.Eccentric means deviating from the recognized or customary character or practice.With regard to people, eccentric means behaving in odd, unusual ways without the implication of mental illness.