2006-09-02 05:45:52 · 13 answers · asked by kumaaanu 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
hi .. nope they do not as far as i know.. most of the orbits are elliptical.. but their planes are not parallel nor perpendicular to each other.. they are just positioned haphazardly.. interestingly, the planets never collide .. cool aint it? :D
2006-09-02 05:49:24 · answer #1 · answered by monkeybrain 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The orbits of the planets are ellipses with the Sun at one focus, though all except Mercury are very nearly circular. The orbits of the planets are all more or less in the same plane (called the ecliptic and defined by the plane of the Earth's orbit). The ecliptic is inclined only 7 degrees from the plane of the Sun's equator. They all orbit in the same direction (counter-clockwise looking down from above the Sun's north pole); all but Venus, Uranus and Pluto also rotate in that same sense.The main features of our solar system are that the planets all revolve around the sun in the same direction, so as do most of their moons, and the planets all lie more or less in the same plane of the sun’s own rotation. If a planet does not revolve in the plane of the sun's own rotation and circle the sun counterclockwise, it will not be stable and its course will be deflected. The moving pattern of our solar system determines these main features. Only in this moving pattern can the solar system survive.
2006-09-02 07:06:39 · answer #2 · answered by JFAD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the planets (whew, I don't have to say “except Pluto” anymore) lie in pretty much the same plane, but not exactly the same plane. Mercury’s orbit is inclined about seven degrees with respect to Earth’s, but the rest of the planets are only a few degrees off the zero plane defined by Earth’s orbit.
There’s a good reason for this—it’s not just coincidence! As far as we know, the planets formed billions of years ago from a swirling disk of gas and dust that encircled the Sun. Because the disk was pretty much flat (for good physical reasons, namely the same reasons you toss spinning pizza dough in the air to flatten it out), all the planets formed in pretty much the same plane.
To get a little technical, my colleague Steve Soter proposed a refinement to the definition of planet currently adopted states that “a planet is an end product of disk accretion around a primary star or substar.” If you’re interested, I linked to the article below.
Ryan Wyatt
Rose Center for Earth & Space
New York, New York
2006-09-02 07:05:25 · answer #3 · answered by ryan_j_wyatt 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Pluto is the biggest example( i know there is a debate as to it is a real planet or not). plus the moon is also clearly revolving in different plane and so are all the planets( the difference in the planes of the planets is not that clearly visible)
2006-09-02 20:36:05 · answer #4 · answered by sakura 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The orbital planes of the planets and most of their satellites are confined to more or less about eight degrees of angles to the orbital plane of the earth.
2006-09-02 06:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO.they revolve around the sun in different planes in elliptical orbits.
2006-09-02 07:12:48 · answer #6 · answered by money money 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree with the above post. They do all revolve around the sun in the same plane. I was wondering why also... I have no answer for that one.
PS This poor answer dings me to level 3! woot! :D
2006-09-02 05:52:13 · answer #7 · answered by Nick Name 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Other than Pluto, most are close to being in the same plane (not perfect of course)
2006-09-02 05:52:03 · answer #8 · answered by Ken H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are all basically on the same plane except for Pluto!
2006-09-02 05:56:36 · answer #9 · answered by Krissy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO. THEY GO AROUND THE SUN IN ORBITS WHICH ARE NOT CO-PLANER . IF IT WAS TRUE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SOLAR ECLIPSES DUE TO MERCURY AS WELL AS VENUS
2006-09-02 05:54:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋