what kind of orbit does jupiter have
by Jerry Coffey on June 17, 2008. The orbit of Jupiter, like that of all the planets, is elliptical instead of circular. At perihelion(closest approach) Jupiter comes within 741 million km, or 4.95 astronomical units(AU), of the Sun.t its most distant point, called aphelion, Jupiter is 817 million km, or 5.46 AU from the Sun. The average between perihelion and aphelion is called the semi-major axis. Jupiterâs semi-major axis is 778 million km, or 5.2 AU.