Our solar system mostly revolves around the sun on the same axis (apart from Pluto). Our galaxy does the same (along with other galaxies). Why? Gravity is linear?

Would it matter if we tried to escape the sun’s gravity by going “up?”

  • @gedaliyah
    link
    133 months ago

    It’s a common shape in the universe: large spherical mass in the center, plane of objects rotating around it.

    Imagine a new object orbiting Saturn in a random direction. At some point (two, actually), it will cross the plane of the rings. Eventually it will crash into an object. The average of the impact will be closer to the plane. Eventually, it will either align with the plane or its orbit will be unstable.

    • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠
      link
      fedilink
      133 months ago

      Doesn’t even have to impact. The gravity of other bodies in orbit will pull out-of-plane objects closer to the plane over time.