Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine
2 articles for "Eccentricity"
Eccentricity [Astro*Index]Literally, not circular. In modern Astronomy and Astrology, the term refers to the amount that the elliptical orbit of a body differs from a circle. Venus has the least eccentric and Pluto has the most eccentric orbit of all the planets.
See also:Eccentricity [Munkasey M.]
♦ Ellipse
The degree of measure which shows how closely anellipse approximates a circle. When the eccentricity is a small number the ellipse is very close to being a circle. Eccentricity is a dimensionless measure.
See also:
♦ Ellipse
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