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math.HO2026-08-191 minarXiv:2608.18537express
Why Planets Fly in Ellipses: A New Proof
A thrown stone arcs through the air, but a planet around the Sun follows a closed curve. Why an ellipse, and not a circle or a spiral? Kepler's first law provides the answer, but its usual proof requires heavy computation. This work offers a shorter path — through a single simple ratio of velocities.