The Mysterious Plane of Planetary Orbits

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reasons why the elliptical orbits of planets in the solar system rotate on a single plane, exploring the formation processes and potential influences on orbital characteristics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the planets' orbits are in a single plane because they formed from a single disk, which is also the equatorial plane of the sun.
  • Another participant questions the absence of external forces affecting the planets' positions relative to the orbital plane and inquires about 3D graphics illustrating the formation process.
  • A different viewpoint is presented, noting that not all planets are in the same plane, with some having tilted orbital planes, potentially due to past impacts, which may also contribute to the eccentricity of their orbits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the uniformity of the orbital plane, with some asserting a common formation process while others highlight variations due to historical impacts. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent of these influences.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about external forces and the historical impacts on orbital characteristics, which are not fully explored or defined.

plutoisacomet
Messages
89
Reaction score
0
Why do the elliptical orbits of the planets in our solar system rotate on a single plane.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Because they were all formed from a single disk. The plane is also the equatorial plane of the sun.
 
Oh, I see so there are no external forces that would cause the planets to go up or down out of the orbital plane. Is there any type of 3-d graphic phys let out there that shows this process from the beginning to the forming of the planets.
 
Not all the planets are in the same plane, their orbit planes can be tilted a bit. Probably because of impacts in the past. Impacts also are believed to be the reasons for eccentricity of the orbits
 

Similar threads

Stargazing Planetary orbits -- Why do planets orbit at same “level”?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Planetary Formation: Could Collisions Explain Our Solar System?
  • · Replies 52 ·
2
Replies
52
Views
7K
High School Planetary Orbits - Elliptical or Wavelike?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Graduate N-Body Simulations of Chaos in the Orbits of Trappist System Planets
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Undergrad Speediest Exoplanet System
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
High School Evolution of planetary system around a white dwarf
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
Undergrad Hypatia, Elliptic orbits, conic sections
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
High School Enlarging Planetary Orbits: Evidence of the Solar System's Evolution?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School How Does a Massive Planet's Orbit Around the Sun Appear?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Why do some planets occlude the Sun while others do not?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K