Definition
Ellipticity measures how much an ellipse deviates from being a perfect circle. Imagine stretching a circle into an oval π₯βthat's an ellipse. Ellipticity quantifies that stretch, from 0 (a perfect circle) to 1 (a highly elongated ellipse). Itβs a crucial concept in astronomy, describing orbits. Higher ellipticity means a more elongated orbit. Consider the orbits of comets, which can be very elliptical. It describes how 'squashed' something is.