Astro*Dictionary
by Michael Erlewine

2 articles for
"Eccentricity"

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:
♦ 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