Wondering about wild grapes

Monday, September 14, 2015

Why and Which Way Do Planets Spin?

Let me limit this question to our Solar System, in which we are the third planet from our star, the Sun.  I am also going to exclude Pluto because it is not considered a major planet.  See my older blog about it:  http://dizzydick.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-trip-to-pluto.html

OK, what is left are the major planets and guess what, they all spin in the same direction.  Does that seem logical to you in a universe that is quite diverse and everything seems to go its own way?  If you think about it awhile, it does make sense.  Let me explain as best I can with my limited knowledge of the wonders of this universe.

Way back in time, yep, even back more years than I am old and that is lot!!, the solar system was nothing but a dust cloud.  I guess that is what happens when the Angels sweep off the streets of Heaven.  This huge cloud of dust was hit by a huge shock wave, probably from a nearby supernova.  This shock wave caused the cloud of dust to collapse.  The collapsing caused its own gravitational forces to pull it into a flat, spinning disk.  Everything that was forming in this spinning disk took on the same angular momentum and thus all spun in the same direction.

OK, for all you who are astronomy students, you will say "hold on a minute, all the planets do not spin in the same direction".  Yep, they would be correct.  The two exceptions are Venus and Uranus.  The most popular theory is that they were probably hit hard with many collisions with asteroids.  Dang, maybe they should have done what I did the last time I had asteroids, I used Preparation H (grin).

You may also ask why they haven't stopped spinning?  Well, there have been no external forces applied to them to stop it and in space, there is nothing there to cause friction.  It would take another huge collision to change or stop the rotation, and anything that huge, we would not passing by our Earth.  Sometimes these huge space rocks are not choosy what they hit.  Yes, this universe is a violent and strange place, for sure.  Now, don't worry, the chance of this happening are not very big.  Just relax and have a great day and a great Monday, you hear?

12 comments:

  1. All that spinning makes me dizzy, Dizzy.

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    1. Yes, and to think that the Earth beneath us is spinning, the solar system is spinning with our spinning galaxy, etc, etc.

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  2. I'll go along with you except I believe Pluto is a full-fledged planet. The association of scientists that downgraded it was not the full assembly by any means, and I think a small group of scientists pulled a fast one.

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    1. Ceres was the biggest asteroid but got promoted to "dwarf planet", so that leaves Vesta as the biggest asteroid now. I guess it is all in the name (grin). Yes, a group of men name heavenly bodies. . .

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  3. They added a leap second this year , amazing stop watch they must have to clock the spin. I didn't notice, but I'm still trying to figure out what day it is.

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    1. I am so far behind if they add a whole leap year I still wouldn't be caught up. . .

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  4. Always found Astrology very interesting. Thanks for the lesson on why planets spin.

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    1. I never believed in Astrology much, but I do love Astronomy.

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  5. Glad to see you still (almost) daily posting, Dizzy. So few of you are now days ...
    Are you "Dizzy" from all your studying of the planet's spinning??

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    1. That could be my excuse for sure. But, it actually came from the last three letters in my amateur radio call - DZY.

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