The term 'Basic Orbital Path' refers to an ELLIPSE, which is a closed curve that is the locus of all points in a plane such that the sum of the distances from two fixed points (foci) is constant. An ELLIPSE is a type of conic section, which is a curve generated by the intersection of a cone with a plane. Ellipses are used in many areas of mathematics and science, including astronomy, where they are used to describe the orbits of planets and other celestial bodies.