3
Patterns in Motion
•All planets orbit in almost the same
plane (ecliptic,
AKA Zodiac)
•Almost all motion is counterclockwise as
seen from the
north:
–All planets orbit in this direction
–*Almost* all planets spin in same
direction
•with axes more-or-less perpendicular to
ecliptic
–Regular moons (like our own moon) orbit
in this direction,
too
•Planets are regularly spaced
–steps increasing as we go outward
From “The Solar
System”
by John A. Wood
by John A. Wood
