The eccentricity of a planet's orbit describes
A)westward motion in the night sky when observed on successive nights.
B)the deviation in shape when compared to a circle.
C)its tilt with respect to the ecliptic plane.
D)the tilt of the planet's rotational axis with respect to the ecliptic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eccentricity refers to the degree of deviation in shape of a planet's orbit from a perfect circle. It is a measure of how flattened or stretched out the orbit is.

The Eccentricity of a Planet's Orbit Describes