Oval or elliptical shaped.
(Not a perfect circle)
The SHAPE of the orbit the Earth and most planets and other bodies of mass in space are usually elliptical.
Yes, the sun's gravitational pull is what keeps Earth and the other planets in our solar system in orbit around it. This gravitational force is what maintains the planets' paths and prevents them from moving off into space.
The actual shape of the earth's orbit around the sun is horrendously complicated. Partly because the earth does not orbit the sun and also because the orbit is influenced by the the gravitational attraction of the other planets. The earth does not orbit the sun: the centre of mass of the earth-sun system is at one of the foci of an ellipse whose eccentricity is 0.0167. The eccentricity varies from 0.0034 to 0.058.
The Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle but an ellipse due to gravitational influences from other planets. This elliptical shape varies over thousands of years due to the gravitational pull of other celestial bodies, such as Jupiter and Venus. A complete cycle, known as eccentricity cycle, takes about 100,000 years to complete.
Elliptical Orbit
in term of shape
sphere
The type of object that orbits the sun and has cleared the area of its orbit is called a planet. Planets are celestial bodies that orbit the sun, are spherical in shape, and have cleared their orbit of other debris or objects. There are currently eight known planets in our solar system.
The elliptical shape of Earth's orbit around the sun is due to the gravitational influence of other planets and celestial bodies in the solar system. The shape of the orbit is not static but varies slightly over time due to these gravitational interactions.
Earth's orbit around the sun is fairly typical compared to other planets in our solar system. It follows an elliptical path, with the sun at one of the foci. The shape and orientation of Earth's orbit contribute to the changing seasons and variations in solar intensity.
The Earth's orbit is primarily shaped by the gravitational pull of the Sun, which dominates the solar system's dynamics. As the Earth moves through space, its velocity and the gravitational attraction create a balance, resulting in an elliptical orbit. Additionally, the gravitational influence of other celestial bodies, such as the Moon and planets, can cause slight variations in the Earth's orbit over time. This elliptical shape is described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
An elliptical orbit is a flattened circle or oval-like shape followed by a planet as it travels around the sun. It is a common shape observed in celestial bodies' paths due to the gravitational pull between them.