What is a satellite? What is gravity? How do we put a spacecraft into orbit? Once a ship is in orbit, do we have to do anything to keep it there? How can a spaceship leave orbit? How do asteroids orbit? How does speed affect an orbit? To better understand why each of the planets follow the same plane and direction while orbiting the Sun, one must think back to a time long before the solar system came into existence. Just as the solar system was beginning to form, there was no rhyme or reason to the dust and gas particles as they swirled around in their happy little nebula.
At some point, however, these particles would begin clumping together, forming a protostar and a plethora of other smaller clumps in the process. These smaller clumps would orbit the protostar randomly, without any rhyme or reason. Over time, clumps moving in opposing directions would slam into one another, breaking apart and leaving just those that moved harmoniously in the same direction. Those that broke apart would eventually create a planetary disk, orbiting the protostar in the same direction as the harmonious objects.
All the while, matter from this disk would both fall into the protostar and begin clumping again — this made the protostar bigger and more gravitationally-influential, while other bits clumped together to form planets. The cycle would only continue to repeat, just on a smaller scale as smaller disks formed around the planets.
Keeping in sync with the existing motions, these disks would go on to form moons around those planets, orbiting in exactly the same plane and direction as the planets around the star. Another is where substantial collisions severely impact an object's orbital trajectory.
Related: Do dust traps make planetary formation possible? Login here. Register Free. Anthony Bouchard. Fascinated by scientific discoveries and media, Anthony found his way here at LabRoots, where he would be able to dabble in the two.
Anthony is a technology junkie that has vast experience in computer systems and automobile mechanics, as opposite as those sound. APR 21, Intermediate Why do planets have elliptical orbits?
Beginner How do you measure a planet's mass? Beginner Do unmanned spacecraft like Voyager travel in straight lines? Intermediate Could there be objects orbiting interior to Mercury? Random Question. Will the Sun become a black hole one day? Most Recent. Is speed of light the same everywhere? Beginner How does Venus have sulphuric acid in it's clouds?
Intermediate Why is the sun red? Beginner But seriously: what was there before the Big Bang? Beginner How far can photons move freely in the early universe Advanced How likely is it that the Solar System has had or will have a close encounter with another star? Intermediate How do we know what we observe is x light years away? Editor's Pick.
What is the universe expanding into? Intermediate What do I need to do to become an astronomer? Beginner What's the difference between astronomy and astrology? Beginner Why is looking out into space the same as looking back in time? Beginner Can we find the place where the Big Bang happened? Most Popular. Are there telescopes that can see the flag and lunar rover on the Moon? Beginner Can artificial gravity be created in space? Intermediate How long could life on Earth survive if the Sun stopped shining?
Beginner What is the difference between a "star" and a "sun"? Beginner What direction do planets rotate?
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