Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane?

Message boards : SETI@home Science : Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane?

Author	Message
Walla Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 06 Posts: 329 Credit: 177,013 RAC: 0	Message 419043 - Posted: 11 Sep 2006, 23:04:30 UTC Last modified: 11 Sep 2006, 23:11:09 UTC
	Why do all the planets orbit the sun in almost the same plane? I understand why they orbit but not why the orbits are all restricted to one plane. Why can't Earth orbit at 20 degrees, and Jupiter at, say 50 degrees? The same question goes for galaxies as well. I understand that they were possibly all created from the same cloud of gas and dust but why did that cloud of gas and dust orbit in the same plane too? Why not all over? ____________
	ID: 419043 ·

RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0	Message 419053 - Posted: 11 Sep 2006, 23:22:10 UTC - in response to Message 419043. Last modified: 11 Sep 2006, 23:38:50 UTC
	Why do all the planets orbit the sun in almost the same plane? I understand why they orbit but not why the orbits are all restricted to one plane. Why can't Earth orbit at 20 degrees, and Jupiter at, say 50 degrees? The same question goes for galaxies as well. I understand that they were possibly all created from the same cloud of gas and dust but why did that cloud of gas and dust orbit in the same plane too? Why not all over? Maybe all the planets did not orbit on the same plane at one time? Maybe a long time ago, We had more planets that orbited on different planes. The Planets ran into our current planets and created new planets out of two planets. Even better, they created new planets and additional moons? I am no expert, but i do know that out of disarray and over time we gain order! Just a thought, Maybe our current solar system is close to perfect! After all of the star stuff bouncing off each other for all the years that have passed, we have finally reached a point where our solar system is stable enough to support life.... Are we the first solar system to reach this point? I think not! that is why i participate in seti@home..... RAT ____________
	ID: 419053 ·

kolch Send message Joined: 18 Dec 00 Posts: 551 Credit: 81,631 RAC: 0	Message 419255 - Posted: 12 Sep 2006, 7:02:58 UTC
	'Tis a fine question. So fine infact that I'm struggling to come up with a suggested answer. Possibly a strange quirk of gravity... We don't even know enough about extrasolar planetary systems to know if our solar system is unique in this way. A further question, do the many moons found in our solar sytem also orbit their planets in the same plane? I have an idea that they don't, but i'm not certain on that. ____________ Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004. Search for your own intelligence...
	ID: 419255 ·

littlegreenmanfrommars Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 28 Jan 06 Posts: 1410 Credit: 934,158 RAC: 0	Message 419333 - Posted: 12 Sep 2006, 12:11:13 UTC Last modified: 12 Sep 2006, 12:14:44 UTC
	As Kolch theorises, it is to do with gravity. As matter fell towards the centre of the cloud that formed the solar system, the Sun formed first. As it grew, it began to spin and the gravitational field generated, began rotate with it. This had the effect of packing the dust cloud into an "accretion disk". Such disks have been observed in other systems, by various means. Over time, of course, the materials in the disk formed planets. Simple??? Not if you've seen the mathematics!! lol I believe Pluto orbits the Sun at an angle of several degrees to the "ecliptic" (The plane the other planets have settled in). This has led to the theory that Pluto was a wandering planet that was captured by the Sun's gravity, and did not form with the rest of the solar system. To me, this idea makes sense, as the four outermost planets are all Gas Giants. (Pluto is no longer deemed a planet) ____________
	ID: 419333 ·

kinhull Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 3 Oct 03 Posts: 1029 Credit: 636,475 RAC: 0	Message 419465 - Posted: 12 Sep 2006, 20:16:51 UTC
	From Curious about astronomy Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane? The orbits of the planets are coplanar because during the Solar System's formation, the planets formed out of a disk of dust which surrounded the Sun. Because that disk of dust was a disk, all in a plane, all of the planets formed in a plane as well. Rings and disks are common in astronomy. When a cloud collapses, the conservation of angular momentum amplifies any initial tiny spin of the cloud. As the cloud spins faster and faster, it collapses into a disk, which is the maximal balance between gravitational collapse and centrifugal force created by rapid spin. The result is the coplanar planets... ____________ Join TeamACC Sometimes I think we are alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we are not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.
	ID: 419465 ·

Walla Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 06 Posts: 329 Credit: 177,013 RAC: 0	Message 419470 - Posted: 12 Sep 2006, 20:28:18 UTC
	Thanks for explaining that guys. I figured that it had to do with gravity but I just couldn't figure out exactly how. ____________
	ID: 419470 ·

John Send message Joined: 17 Jul 00 Posts: 7 Credit: 569,621 RAC: 0	Message 419517 - Posted: 12 Sep 2006, 21:56:54 UTC - in response to Message 419470.
	http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/25/ has info on a two disk star, Beta Pictoris.
	ID: 419517 ·

Troy Stull Send message Joined: 21 Jun 06 Posts: 264 Credit: 46,144 RAC: 0	Message 419604 - Posted: 13 Sep 2006, 1:11:09 UTC
	Sweeet. Thanks, I feel all samrtish again. ____________ /Central Florida Astronomical Society
	ID: 419604 ·

Chuck Send message Joined: 1 Dec 05 Posts: 511 Credit: 496,990 RAC: 395	Message 419667 - Posted: 13 Sep 2006, 3:13:54 UTC
	Don't forget that we have the same disk of dust here in the solar system today. Over and over. The most striking example is Saturn, although Jupiter, Neptune and Uranos also have them. ____________ Never Forget a Friend. Or an Enemy.
	ID: 419667 ·

RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0	Message 419736 - Posted: 13 Sep 2006, 4:34:05 UTC - in response to Message 419667.
	Don't forget that we have the same disk of dust here in the solar system today. Over and over. The most striking example is Saturn, although Jupiter, Neptune and Uranos also have them. Dudes and or dudets. Reach deeper!! Reach DEPO!! Theory!!! not gravity!!! ____________
	ID: 419736 ·

RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0	Message 420113 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 0:39:33 UTC
	http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/25/ Dudes and dudeets, This is exactly what i stated! Check out this site! As a solar system ages, junk run into each other! Combining into a single disk! on a single plane! RAT ____________
	ID: 420113 ·

Message boards : SETI@home Science : Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane?