What direction do all major planets orbit the Sun when viewed from above the Sun’s north pole?
Answer
Counter-clockwise.
A fundamental observation supporting the nebular hypothesis is the remarkable uniformity in the orbital motions of the major planets, extending from Mercury out to Neptune. Specifically, every planet orbits the Sun in the same direction. When observing the system from a vantage point above the Sun’s north pole, this consistent directionality is defined as counter-clockwise. This shared motion strongly implies that all planetary bodies inherited their rotational tendency directly from the initial momentum inherent in the vast, rotating cloud of gas and dust—the solar nebula—from which the entire system condensed.
Related Questions
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