The path is elliptical and not circular because of the gravitational force and centripetal force between the planets and the sun the path is elliptical

The Shape of Planetary Orbits: Elliptical vs Circular

Introduction
The shape of a planet's orbit around the Sun plays a crucial role in determining its path and distance from the Sun at different points in time. While it may appear that the orbit is a perfect circle, planetary orbits are actually elliptical in nature. This phenomenon can be explained by several key factors.

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Johannes Kepler, a prominent astronomer of the 17th century, formulated three laws describing the motion of planets. These laws provide insights into why planetary orbits are elliptical:

1. First Law: Law of Ellipses
Kepler's first law states that a planet orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, with the Sun located at one of the two foci of the ellipse. The shape of an ellipse can be described by its eccentricity, which is a measure of how elongated the ellipse is. A perfectly circular orbit has an eccentricity of 0, while an elliptical orbit has an eccentricity greater than 0 but less than 1.

2. Second Law: Law of Equal Areas
The second law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times as it moves along its elliptical orbit. This implies that a planet travels faster when it is closer to the Sun (perihelion) and slower when it is farther away (aphelion). As a result, the planet spends more time in the outer parts of its orbit, leading to an elongated shape.

3. Third Law: Law of Harmonies
Kepler's third law establishes a relationship between a planet's orbital period and its average distance from the Sun. It states that the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun. This means that the farther a planet is from the Sun, the longer it takes to complete one orbit.

Gravity and Perturbations
Gravity is the driving force behind the elliptical shape of planetary orbits. The gravitational pull exerted by the Sun on a planet causes it to follow a curved path. Additionally, interactions between planets and other celestial bodies can perturb their orbits, causing them to deviate from perfect circles.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the elliptical shape of planetary orbits is a result of the gravitational forces exerted by the Sun and the laws of planetary motion formulated by Johannes Kepler. These elliptical orbits allow planets to have varying distances from the Sun at different points in their orbits, resulting in unique seasons, climate patterns, and other astronomical phenomena on each planet.