2006-10-08 13:19:06 · 10 answers · asked by bognar4 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Most likely because of the spinning disk of material which condensed to become the sun and planets. Note carefully that "same plane" means within a few degrees of each other. A month ago, this answer would have had to be different, because Pluto's orbital plane is inclined much more than the planes of the remaining 8 planets. Their orbits and the solar equator are nearly parallel.
2006-10-08 13:24:01 · answer #1 · answered by birchardvilleobservatory 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. Each planet's orbit is in a slightly different plane than the other planets' orbits. But most of the planes are pretty close together, with only a small angle of difference at the line of nodes. The reason for that is the angular momentum of the nebula that contracted to form the planets had already flattened into an accretion disk as the particles in it collided with each other and the amount of variance in their angular momenta was reduced over time.
2006-10-08 21:50:20 · answer #2 · answered by David S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because evidence suggests that the solar system formed from a disk of matter circling the Sun. As the planets accreted from the disk, they were going in the same direction as the disk was spinning around the Sun.
2006-10-08 20:23:49 · answer #3 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most do -except Pluto is inclined several degrees to the rest of the planets orbit.
The reason is that the system evolved from a disc of gas all spinning the same direction- like Saturn's rings - the planets formed from ring of material orbiting the sun.
2006-10-08 20:26:12 · answer #4 · answered by scootda2nd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. That's just a model scientists use to demonstrate the structure of the solar system. I believe Pluto (which technically is no longer a "planet") really flies outside the orbital plane.
2006-10-08 20:23:29 · answer #5 · answered by jon_k1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. But if you actually look into the theories of planetary formation, you'll have some ideas of why the planes are relatively close. Of course, they're only theories, and the truth might be different from all of them.
2006-10-08 20:25:20 · answer #6 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way the solar system is formed starts the rotation. Initially a solar system is a whirlpool of dust and gas swirling towards a gravitational drain.
http://www.nineplanets.org/origin.html
2006-10-08 21:06:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no they do not. also, does not mercury go backwards in its traverse too?
2006-10-08 20:48:43 · answer #8 · answered by cadaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LAW OF ATTRACTION
2006-10-08 20:27:01 · answer #9 · answered by ken-k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guh!!! They don't.
2006-10-08 20:26:14 · answer #10 · answered by badbilly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋