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Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane?
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Walla Send message Joined: 14 May 06 Posts: 329 Credit: 177,013 RAC: 0 |
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? |
RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0 |
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. 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 |
Daykay Send message Joined: 18 Dec 00 Posts: 647 Credit: 739,559 RAC: 0 |
'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... |
littlegreenmanfrommars Send message Joined: 28 Jan 06 Posts: 1410 Credit: 934,158 RAC: 0 |
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) |
kinhull Send message Joined: 3 Oct 03 Posts: 1029 Credit: 636,475 RAC: 0 |
From Curious about astronomy Why do all the planets orbit in the same plane? 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. |
Walla Send message Joined: 14 May 06 Posts: 329 Credit: 177,013 RAC: 0 |
Thanks for explaining that guys. I figured that it had to do with gravity but I just couldn't figure out exactly how. |
John Send message Joined: 17 Jul 00 Posts: 7 Credit: 569,621 RAC: 0 |
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/25/ has info on a two disk star, Beta Pictoris. |
Troy Stull Send message Joined: 21 Jun 06 Posts: 264 Credit: 46,144 RAC: 0 |
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Chuck Send message Joined: 1 Dec 05 Posts: 511 Credit: 532,682 RAC: 0 |
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. |
RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0 |
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!!! |
RatNet_Matric Send message Joined: 7 Jul 04 Posts: 22 Credit: 359,951 RAC: 0 |
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 |
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