If you look up at our solar system from above, in what direction do the planets revolve around the sun?

If you look at our solar system from above, in which direction do the planets revolve around the sun?

Asker: Joske, 16 years old

Answer

Mmmm…what’s up and down in the solar system or in the universe?
The planets do not move exactly in one plane, but the orbital planes only differ from each other by a few degrees. The Earth’s axis of rotation is nearly perpendicular (67°) to that “more-or-less plane of the solar system” so we can use that axis to define above and below.
So let’s agree that the direction of the north pole is “up”, and the direction of the south pole is “below”. If you then look at the solar system from above (the north pole) you will see all the planets rotating counterclockwise around the sun. The direction of rotation of the planets is also the same (except Uranus, which is tilted almost 90°), the direction of rotation of most moons, asteroids… The sun itself also rotates in the same direction.

If you look up at our solar system from above, in what direction do the planets revolve around the sun?

Answered by

prof.dr. Paul Hellings

Department of Mathematics, Fac. IIW, KU Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/

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