Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

The lower the eccentricity, the closer a planet's orbital shape is to a perfect circle. Which planet has the highest eccentricity, thereby making its orbit farthest away from a circle?

  1. Neptune

  2. Mercury

  3. Earth

  4. Saturn
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mercury has the highest orbital eccentricity (about 0.21) of all planets, making its orbit the most elliptical and farthest from a perfect circle. This is due to gravitational perturbations from other planets. Venus has the lowest eccentricity, while gas giants have moderately eccentric orbits.

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