Do all the moons in the Solar System go in the same direction as well?
2007-06-21 08:10:56 · 7 answers · asked by tuthutop 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No, they don't. Most of the larger moons do orbit counter-clockwise (the same as the planets around the Sun) but Triton (Neptune's largest moon) is an exception. It orbits backwards and at a large inclination relative to Neptune's equator, indicating that it didn't form along with Neptune, but was captured after formation. Some of the small moons around the gas-rich giant planets also orbit backwards, and again they were also probably captured.
2007-06-21 08:24:53 · answer #1 · answered by kris 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, the moons do not all orbit their planets in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above the solar north pole. Anything going "against the grain" is called retrograde motion. Several of Jupiter's small moons have retrograde orbits.
One person listed one of Mars' moons as a retrograde orbit, but this is not actually correct. Phobos orbits very close to Mars and very quickly, so much so that its orbit has more effect on its position in the sky than Mars' rotation does. From the surface of Mars, Phobos rises in the west and sets in the east because Phobos orbits faster than Mars rotates. This is an "apparent retrograde" motion, but viewed from above Mars' north pole, both Phobos and Diemos both orbit in counterclockwise fashion.
2007-06-21 16:39:20 · answer #2 · answered by ZeroByte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Yes and no. The Earth's Moon is the only moon in the solar system that never gets pulled back from the Sun during its orbit. Both the Earth and Moon orbit in a small wavelike motion that, if you plot it, has both bodies in solar orbit. All other moons get pulled away from the Sun during part of their orbits.
2007-06-21 15:18:02 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know this does not answer the question but one thing you might learn :
Venus turns around itselfs from East to West and is the only planet in our solar system to be like this .
(my english may not be correct i'm french)
2007-06-21 15:20:22 · answer #4 · answered by jl_geesen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although most moons orbit anticlockwise, there are a few that are retrograde in motion. Look to the gas giants.
2007-06-22 00:42:16 · answer #5 · answered by Tropic-of-Cancer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kris missed out Mars. One of its moons is retrograde. I can't remember which one.
Look up Deimos and Phobos on Google or Wikipedia.
2007-06-21 16:13:58 · answer #6 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they do yes.
2007-06-21 15:14:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋