In this session, students discover that the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is very nearly a circle. This begins to dispel a common misconception that seasons are caused by variations in the distance from the Sun to the Earth. Students look back at the results of the class survey on this question, and reflect on why so many people think the seasons have to do with the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Students discover that the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is very nearly a circle. To further reinforce this concept, try this supplemental activity on measuring the apparent size of the Sun.     A variety of solar images are available from Mount Wilson, an observatory near Los Angeles. (Web link requires an internet connection)	Data on the orbits and eccentricities of the planets can be found at the Nine Planets web site at SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) at the University of Arizona. (Web link requires an internet connection)

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