Earth's orbit around the Sun can be best described as an elliptical shape, which is slightly elongated rather than a perfect circle. This elliptical orbit is governed by Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Here are some key points about Earth's orbit:
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Elliptical Shape: Earth's orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two focal points. The distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year.
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Average Distance: The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 93 million miles (approximately 150 million kilometers), a distance known as an astronomical unit (AU).
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Eccentricity: The eccentricity of Earth's orbit is relatively low (about 0.0167), meaning it is very close to being circular.
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Orbital Period: The time it takes for Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun is one year, approximately 365.25 days. This period is the basis of our calendar year.
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Tilted Axis: Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane, which causes the seasons as different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
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Perihelion and Aphelion: Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) around early January and its farthest point (aphelion) around early July.
This combination of factors results in the seasons and influences climate and weather patterns on Earth.
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