<Tr> <Td> Osculating (Epoch 23 July 2010) </Td> <Td> 2.7653 </Td> <Td> 0.079138 </Td> <Td> 10.586821 </Td> <Td> 1,679.66 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Difference </Td> <Td> 0.0018 </Td> <Td> 0.03706 </Td> <Td> 0.939386 </Td> <Td> 1.94 </Td> </Tr> <P> Ceres follows an orbit between Mars and Jupiter, within the asteroid belt, with a period of 4.6 Earth years . The orbit is moderately inclined (i = 10.6 ° compared to 7 ° for Mercury and 17 ° for Pluto) and moderately eccentric (e = 0.08 compared to 0.09 for Mars). </P> <P> The diagram illustrates the orbits of Ceres (blue) and several planets (white and gray). The segments of orbits below the ecliptic are plotted in darker colors, and the orange plus sign is the Sun's location . The top left diagram is a polar view that shows the location of Ceres in the gap between Mars and Jupiter . The top right is a close - up demonstrating the locations of the perihelia (q) and aphelia (Q) of Ceres and Mars . In this diagram (but not in general), the perihelion of Mars is on the opposite side of the Sun from those of Ceres and several of the large main - belt asteroids, including 2 Pallas and 10 Hygiea . The bottom diagram is a side view showing the inclination of the orbit of Ceres compared to the orbits of Mars and Jupiter . </P>

How long does it take ceres to orbit the sun