Here's why this is important:
* Varying Distance: Because the orbit is elliptical, Earth's distance from the sun varies throughout the year. We're closest to the sun in January (perihelion) and furthest away in July (aphelion).
* Seasons: This variation in distance doesn't directly cause the seasons, but it does play a small role. The tilt of Earth's axis is the primary factor in causing seasons.
While the Earth's orbit is elliptical, it's not a very extreme ellipse. It's relatively close to circular, which is why we often depict it as circular for simplicity.
