Planetary orbits refer to the paths that planets take as they move around a star, such as the Sun. These orbits are generally elliptical in shape, meaning they are oval rather than perfectly circular. The gravitational pull of the star keeps the planets in their orbits, balancing the forward motion of the planets with the attraction of gravity. Each planet in our solar system, including Earth, Mars, and Jupiter, has a unique orbital period, which is the time it takes to complete one full orbit around the Sun. For example, Earth takes about 365 days to orbit the Sun, while Jupiter takes nearly 12 years.