Position of stellar bodies in space.

[PrincePhoenix]

Do the sun, moon, Earth etc lie in the same plane? I mean are they at the same level or some bodies are above/below others? If yes than why?

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi PrincePhoenix!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic#Ecliptic_and_planets"

 

[PrincePhoenix]

So at times one is above the other (with respect to the ecliptic), depending on the position they have in their orbits at that time? And I can't picture the ecliptic in my mind when I think of the actual movement of the earth, which is the Earth moving around the sun?

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi PrincePhoenix!

I'm not sure what your question is.

The ecliptic is the plane in which the Earth orbits the Sun.

So it's also the plane in which we see the Sun.

The other planets spend about half their time on one side of the ecliptic, and about half on the other side.

 

[HallsofIvy]

However, they are roughly in the same plane. As you can see from tiny-tim's link, Mercury's orbit is only about 7 degrees from ours and the other planets are much closer to being in the same plane.

 

[PrincePhoenix]

The ecliptic is the plane in which the Earth orbits the Sun.

The other planets spend about half their time on one side of the ecliptic, and about half on the other side.

That answers my questions.
Thank you.

However, they are roughly in the same plane. As you can see from tiny-tim's link, Mercury's orbit is only about 7 degrees from ours and the other planets are much closer to being in the same plane.

But at such large distances, it is still significant isn't it?