Borek said:That's not exactly true - while planets orbits do lie close to ecliptic, they are all more or less inclined.
From what I remember initial cloud from which Sun and planets formed get flat as a result of gravitation and rotation.
D H said:This question was asked just a couple of days ago. See [thread=441523]this thread[/thread] and my response in [post=2951827]post #2[/post].
The Opik-Oort cloud is roughly spherical. The members of the Oort cloud have, in many instance, been ejected from the solar system by gravitational interaction with Jupiter or the other giants. Since the ejection can be in any direction they tend to form such a sphere. I think there is some thought that the innermost part of the cloud is also planar, like the rest of the system.AC130Nav said:What shape is the Oort cloud?
The flat plane of the Solar system is a result of its formation process. As the Solar system formed from a large cloud of gas and dust, it began to spin due to its own gravitational pull. This spinning motion caused the materials to flatten out into a disk shape, with the majority of the mass in the center forming the Sun and the lighter materials spreading out into the surrounding space.
No, the flat plane of the Solar system is not unique. In fact, most planetary systems that have been observed also have a flat plane, known as the ecliptic plane. This is due to the same formation process and laws of gravity that govern the formation of all planetary systems.
The flat plane of the Solar system plays a crucial role in the stability of the planets' orbits. As the planets orbit the Sun, their paths are confined to the same flat plane, minimizing the chances of collisions and disruptions in their orbits. This allows the planets to maintain relatively stable orbits over long periods of time.
While the majority of objects in the Solar system follow the flat plane, there are some exceptions. Dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids can have inclined or eccentric orbits, meaning they deviate from the flat plane. This is often due to gravitational interactions with larger planets or other objects in the Solar system.
While it is possible for the flat plane of the Solar system to change over time, it would require a significant disruption or event. For example, a large asteroid impact or close encounter with another star could alter the orbits of the planets and potentially change the flat plane. However, the current stability and balance of the Solar system make it unlikely for a major change to occur in the near future.