Orbital Properties of the
Planets (How do they move?)
Relevent Facts:
-
Planets move around the sun ("revolve")
in nearly circular orbits.
-
All planets revolve in the same direction. This is also the
direction in which the sun rotates.
-
Most planets rotate in the same direction as they revolve.
Exceptions: Venus, Uranus,
Pluto
-
Planets orbit the sun in nearly the same plane (the "ecliptic")
Exceptions: Pluto (i=17°)
and Mercury (i=7°)
Discussion:
We have taken a census of the Solar System: the inhabitants
(planets, sun, etc) and their gross properties. Based on this information,
what
can we say about how the Solar System formed?