The ecliptic planes of the Milky Way and the solar system

In summary, the conversation discusses the similarities between the ecliptic planes of the Milky Way and the Sun, and whether this characteristic is shared by all other solar systems in the Milky Way. It is mentioned that the galactic plane is not aligned with the ecliptic, and that the inclination of other solar systems in the Milky Way may vary. There is also a mention of a question asked at a conference regarding the angular momentum of molecular clouds versus the angular momentum of the galactic disk. The conclusion is that there is likely no similarity on the galactic scale.
  • #1
pixel01
688
1
Our Milky Way is a spiral galaxy whose ecliptic plane is the same with the ecliptic of the Sun (or nearly). So do you think all other solar systems in the Milky Way also have the same characteristics?
 
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  • #2
The galactic plane is nowhere near the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane around the Sun).

They are inclined by about 600.

Garth
 
  • #3
pixel01 said:
Our Milky Way is a spiral galaxy whose ecliptic plane is the same with the ecliptic of the Sun (or nearly). So do you think all other solar systems in the Milky Way also have the same characteristics?

could be that's an interesting question though.
 
  • #4
davo said:
could be that's an interesting question though.

My idea is this: in our solar system, almost all planets have equatorial planes somewhat in the ecliptic plane (or less than about 30 degrees inclined except for Uranus). So there may be a similarity in the galactic scale. Hope the solar system is not a 'Uranus' in the Milkyway.
 
  • #5
I once asked this question at a conference, actually. The consensus was that the usual angular momentum variations in molecular clouds are much bigger than any sort of preference you'd get from the angular momentum of the galactic disk.

So no, probably no similarity on the galactic scale.
 

1. What is the ecliptic plane of the Milky Way?

The ecliptic plane of the Milky Way is the imaginary flat surface that represents the path of the sun as seen from Earth. It is essentially the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun projected onto the sky.

2. How is the ecliptic plane related to the solar system?

The ecliptic plane is not only the path of the sun, but it is also the path of all the planets in our solar system. This is because the planets all orbit around the sun in a similar plane, with only slight variations.

3. What is the significance of the ecliptic plane?

The ecliptic plane is significant because it helps us understand the motion of the sun and planets in our solar system. It also allows us to accurately predict the positions of the planets in the sky.

4. Are there any other objects in our galaxy that follow the ecliptic plane?

Yes, there are other objects in our galaxy that follow the ecliptic plane. This includes asteroids, comets, and other small bodies that are part of our solar system.

5. Does the ecliptic plane ever change position?

Yes, the ecliptic plane is not fixed and it actually changes position over time due to the gravitational pull of other objects in our galaxy. This means that the position of the sun and planets in the sky also change over time.

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