What is Earth's orbit?
All [[planets]] in our [[solar system]] follow an [[Ellipse|elliptical]] path. This path is known as an [[orbit]]. '''Earth's orbit''' is not a perfect circle. It is an [[ellipse]]. The Earth's orbit takes about 365 days, this is also called a [[year]]. This means that in 365 days (a year) the Earth has gone around the [[Sun]].{{efn|Actually, it takes 365{{frac|4}} days to orbit around the Sun.}} From this we can find that the [[orbital speed]] of the Earth is about {{convert|67000|mph|order=flip}} through space. The closest distance Earth is to the Sun, or [[perihelion]], is {{convert|146|e6km|abbr=unit}} and the farthest or [[aphelion]] is {{convert|152|e6km|abbr=unit}}. It takes [[light]] (or any other [[electromagnetic radiation]]) just over eight minutes to travel from Sun to Earth. This averages out to a typical [[distance]] of 150 million kilometers. The seasonal changes on Earth are because of the 23.44° [[axial tilt]] of its rotation and slightly elliptical path around the Sun. The orbit varies over long periods of time according to the [[Milankovitch cycle]]s. These cycles are one of the main causes of [[climate change]]. [[Image:Seasons1.svg|center|frameless|upright=2.8]] This diagram shows a very exaggerated shape of Earth's orbit; the actual orbit is almost circular. == Related links == * [[Earth phase]] * [[Spaceship Earth]] == Notes == {{notelist}} == Other websites == * [https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/HowFast.pdf Earth&nbsp;– Speed through space&nbsp;– <!---between 0.8 - 1.9 M mph--->about 1 million miles an hour]&nbsp;– [[NASA]] & ([[w:Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2019 July 20#How fast are we moving through space?|WP discussion]]) [[Category:Orbits]] [[Category:Earth]]