If an object has an orbit around the Sun that has an eccentricity of 0.1, then the orbit is
A) exactly circular.
B) a straight line.
C) a long, thin ellipse.
D) almost circular, but not quite.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Orbital eccentricity measures how much an orbit deviates from a perfect circle. An eccentricity of 0 means the orbit is a perfect circle. As the value approaches 1, the orbit becomes more elongated. An eccentricity of 0.1 indicates the orbit is very close to circular but slightly elliptical.

If an Object Has an Orbit Around the Sun That