<p>That second picture is not an elliptical orbit (at least, not as elliptical as depicted). It is a roughly circular orbit viewed from the side.</p>

<p>Any orbit that appears as such (elliptical, but with the main body in the middle rather than at one of the two foci) is just a circular orbit viewed from just above or below the plane of the orbit.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T06:09:08.747Z
An ellipse is in fact a [planar cross section of a cone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conic_section).  Which means it is a projection of a circle onto a plane.   However the OP, from his question here and on Space Exploration SE, does not mean the paths he shows are views from some angle but is the actual path in the plane of the orbit.  So I don't think you're answering the question.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T08:51:41.293Z
There is no such orbit that exists. Either the picture is on an angle or was drawn badly. This is the answer.
Ingolifs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T16:24:35.220Z
You#re making an assumption about the OP's intent, something you should be asking them to clarify (via comment) *before* answering.  I see no basis for your assumption and IMO it contradicts the clear intent of the OP's question.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T05:16:43.020Z
2018-10-29T05:16:43.020Z
Ingolifs
<p>Most natural elliptical orbits are one sided as shown below from wiki.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/zkHZe.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zkHZe.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>What is an elliptical orbit where perigee and apogee are closer to being equal in distance than not? The object would have to skip off the atmosphere to maintain this orbit.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QaFKt.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QaFKt.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I have learned that this orbit would not be possible without spending energy and is not a stable orbit. Which makes this question off-topic no matter how I word it. I have flagged it for being off-topic.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-04T19:34:51.773Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it would require propulsion which makes it off topic for astronomy.
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-28T21:20:14.247Z
That orbit does not appear to be physically possible (without some external force acting on the orbiting bodies). In a 2-body system the centre of mass has to be at one focus of the ellipse. Perhaps you need to explain the diagram some more?
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-28T21:32:58.950Z
Doesn't help. Is the diagram to scale? Are we looking at the plane of the orbit? What is the red dot? Where is the centre of mass of the satellite? Where is the centre of mass of the system?
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-28T22:51:03.527Z
What is an elliptical orbit with 2 equal sides called?  All ellipses have equal sides relative to the center.  Relative to the foci, the sides are equal if you compare both sides along the semi major axis.  You seem to want equal sides along the semi minor axis relative to the foci.   That's a circle.   A circle is a specific type of ellipse.  It's no longer an ellipse if you create some kind of theoretical pumping motion or energy exchange.  Your orbit would need to be created artificially and it would no longer be an ellipse.   I'd call it an artificial, perturbed or manipulated orbit.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T03:04:17.950Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because you're asking the name of a path you describe as an orbit, but no such orbit is possible, so it has no name.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T05:10:25.603Z
@StephenG I am voting this question to "leave open", because your comment is not a close reason, but the correct answer.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-31T03:01:56.480Z
So where does this image appear? I can't seem to find any other question or answer that uses it.
Ingolifs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-31T09:26:41.427Z
The most recent edit has substantially changed the question, but it's no longer "unclear" so it deserves to be reopened. However, I won't be changing my downvote on it, as it's not a *useful* question. The only orbit in which apogee and perigee are equidistant is a *circular* orbit.
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-02T11:31:35.647Z
Answers to [Why does Earth not appear to be at the focus of TESS' elliptical orbit in this video?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/26578/12102) on a different SE sie may also be slightly informative here as well.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-03T11:16:24.547Z
The answer to this (completely changed) question is - a circle.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-11T17:44:39.960Z
@Muze I think you could reformulate it to become more clear.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-11T22:02:56.737Z
@peterh Since I posted this I have learned there is no natuaral orbit that can do this.
Muze
<orbit><identify-this-object>
What is this elliptical orbit?
Muze
# What is this elliptical orbit?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-28)

Most natural elliptical orbits are one sided as shown below from wiki.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/zkHZe.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/zkHZe.gif)

What is an elliptical orbit where perigee and apogee are closer to being equal in distance than not? The object would have to skip off the atmosphere to maintain this orbit.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QaFKt.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/QaFKt.jpg)

I have learned that this orbit would not be possible without spending energy and is not a stable orbit. Which makes this question off-topic no matter how I word it. I have flagged it for being off-topic.

**Tags:** orbit, identify-this-object

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That orbit does not appear to be physically possible (without some external force acting on the orbiting bodies). In a 2-body system the centre of mass has to be at one focus of the ellipse. Perhaps you need to explain the diagram some more?  
> **username_1**: Doesn't help. Is the diagram to scale? Are we looking at the plane of the orbit? What is the red dot? Where is the centre of mass of the satellite? Where is the centre of mass of the system?  
> **username_2**: What is an elliptical orbit with 2 equal sides called?  All ellipses have equal sides relative to the center.  Relative to the foci, the sides are equal if you compare both sides along the semi major axis.  You seem to want equal sides along the semi minor axis relative to the foci.   That's a circle.   A circle is a specific type of ellipse.  It's no longer an ellipse if you create some kind of theoretical pumping motion or energy exchange.  Your orbit would need to be created artificially and it would no longer be an ellipse.   I'd call it an artificial, perturbed or manipulated orbit.  
> **username_3**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because you're asking the name of a path you describe as an orbit, but no such orbit is possible, so it has no name.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I am voting this question to "leave open", because your comment is not a close reason, but the correct answer.  
> **username_5**: So where does this image appear? I can't seem to find any other question or answer that uses it.  
> **username_6**: The most recent edit has substantially changed the question, but it's no longer "unclear" so it deserves to be reopened. However, I won't be changing my downvote on it, as it's not a *useful* question. The only orbit in which apogee and perigee are equidistant is a *circular* orbit.  
> **username_7**: Answers to [Why does Earth not appear to be at the focus of TESS' elliptical orbit in this video?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/26578/12102) on a different SE sie may also be slightly informative here as well.  
> **username_1**: The answer to this (completely changed) question is - a circle.  
> **username_0**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it would require propulsion which makes it off topic for astronomy.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 I think you could reformulate it to become more clear.  
> **username_0**: @username_4 Since I posted this I have learned there is no natuaral orbit that can do this.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-10-29. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

That second picture is not an elliptical orbit (at least, not as elliptical as depicted). It is a roughly circular orbit viewed from the side.

Any orbit that appears as such (elliptical, but with the main body in the middle rather than at one of the two foci) is just a circular orbit viewed from just above or below the plane of the orbit.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: An ellipse is in fact a [planar cross section of a cone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conic_section).  Which means it is a projection of a circle onto a plane.   However the OP, from his question here and on Space Exploration SE, does not mean the paths he shows are views from some angle but is the actual path in the plane of the orbit.  So I don't think you're answering the question.  
> **username_5**: There is no such orbit that exists. Either the picture is on an angle or was drawn badly. This is the answer.  
> **username_3**: You#re making an assumption about the OP's intent, something you should be asking them to clarify (via comment) *before* answering.  I see no basis for your assumption and IMO it contradicts the clear intent of the OP's question.  

---

