Moving Earth into a circular orbit around the Sun?

Question

What would be the immediate impact to Earth and our solar system if someone (think very advanced lifeform, like Q from Star Trek: The Next Generation) changed Earth's orbit instantly from elliptical to circular?

Answer 1

*assuming that: (1) only the orbit changes, and (2) the circular orbit is the average of Earth's perihelion and aphelion (closest and furthest point from the sun respectively) distances.

the temps would change, but not by much. The seasons are defined by both orbit and tilt, but if the orbit is held circular, then the Earth's seasons will all be the same and it would be kind of like spring/fall (no idea really) but it would be constant because now the atmosphere will play a more major role. that being said, the poles will still be cold, but a little warmer, and the equator will still be hot, but a little colder. that's long-term; the short-term climate changes would probably harken a migration of sorts (or change of lifestyle) until Earth had found its new balance.

history: Earth and all the other planets got their elliptical orbits from the development of the Sun and its Lagrangian point (an empty spot in space that has its own center of gravity due to the sums of many gravities acting at that spot); these make the two focii with which the planets revolve around. Now how did that Lagrangian point form? Early massive impacts to the proto-Sun and the proto-planets, especially to Jupiter (which was 99.5% close to becoming a star itself) caused these orbits to develop and they were stabilized by the formation of the Lagragian point.

What WON'T change: (1) the tides: this is controlled over 99% by the moon's gravity and based on our assumptions, there wouldn't be a change to the moon's orbit at all; (2) the other celestial bodies: except for small Near-Earth objects, the planets and other objects would hardly feel the change, or would deviate noticeably; (3) there have been some who said that the Earth's eccentricity is miniscule or that perihelion and aphelion are so minute that changes would be neglible: FALSE! While those numbers may be small, remember that they are measured on the astronomical level; if we were to relate to Earth; the changes, especially for the short-term, will be definitely noticeable, on the order or animal migrations, ecosystem shifts, possible extinctions, etc; but long-term, the changes would be die out and the new balance would be different (more constant) than before.

**NOTE: it may seem that I'm playing this to a catastrophic level, but this has been going on for millions of years (only now the change has become instant so what has been gradual now quickens that's all)

Answer 2

Almost nothing would change. Earth's orbit is almost circular now. The variation is less than 2% from greatest to shortest distance. The tilt of the Earth contributes more to the climate conditions than does the distance to the Sun. The impact on the Solar System would be even less than almost nothing.

Answer 3

It depends. Did he change anything else? Jupiter's orbit? Or even its position IN its orbit? Or even Pluto. The thing is that our solar system, and ultimately our universe, is so fine-tuned that even the slightest miscalculation could spell disaster. So, technically, there's no way to know exactly what would happen for the simply reason that our present measurements and simulation technology is not advanced enough to replicate the functions of the universe. In other words, our technology needs to be able to measure more precisely and emulate more efficiently things like gravity, distance, and etc. before we can accurately without a shred of a doubt predict exactly what would happen if something was offset.

However, offsetting the orbit would most likely end in the earth being pulled into or flung away from the sun, depending on the dimensions of the circular orbit in relation to that of the elliptical.

Answer 4

"Like all planets in our solar system, the Earth is in an elliptical orbit around our Sun. In Earth's case, its orbit is nearly circular, so that the difference between Earth's farthest point from the Sun and its closest point is very small. Earth's orbit defines a two-dimensional plane which we call the ecliptic. " Therefore the difference would be negligible as we are already nearly circular orbit. You wouldn't know the difference, as compared to, say, human caused climate change.

Answer 5

Well this would effect the orbits and gravitation pulls of neighboring planets and their moon(s). The degree to which they would be affected would depend on the size of the ellipse we were put in. The season's would change, the tilt of the earth would change, the amount of sun light that the polar caps receives would be different possible causing melting, destruction of habitats for humans and animals, flooding. The tides would change, more flooding. Chaos, anarchy, probably a good idea to leave the orbit as is.

Answer 6

Very little difference. Earth's orbit is almost circular anyway. Seriously, nothing would chance.

Answer 7

Not much---the seasons would be a little more extreme, since at present the Earth is a little closer to the Sun in the northern winter, and so this moderates the cold in the Northern winter a little. South of the equator, the large amount of ocean moderates the seasons.

Answer 8

The eccentricity of the earth's orbit is only .01671 (circle = 0.00).
Therefore, the effect would not be noticable except for perhaps the intensity of warm or cold spells: they would be less severe than with an elliptical orbit.

Answer 9

Thats impossible because gravity dictates how the earth revolves around the sun. He may be able to ratttle and shake it up, but soon enough it finds its own again.

Answer 10

Pretty much nothing. The solar analemma would change it's shape. Earth's orbit is almost circular as it is.