Chapter 10.6, Problem 46AE

Orbit of Mercury The planet Mercury travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit given approximately by $r=\frac{\left(3.442\right){10}^7}{1-0.206\cos \theta }$ where $r$ is measured in miles and the Sun is at the pole. Find the distance from Mercury to the Sun at aphelion (greatest distance from the Sun) and at perihelion (shortest distance from the Sun). See the figure. Use the aphelion and perihelion to graph the orbit of Mercury using a graphing utility.