Why is the plane of the solar system 90 degrees to the plane of the galaxy?

Question

I actually have two questions about the plane of the solar system.

First, why 90 degrees? Wouldn't it make more sense for the solar system to by coplanar with the galaxy? At least that seems more intuitive to me.

Second, how does this compare with extrasolar planets in other star systems in the Milky Way? Do we know the angle of the planes of other solar systems?

Answer 1

wondered about this myself.... no clue, really... but wouldn't it be a kick to find that our solar system came along with the capture of another small galaxy, like the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy is being snagged?....that we're slightly 'left of center' because we didn't start out here?....

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/as...

Answer 2

it isn't 90 degrees. the angle is random, in any case.

Answer 3

It's not quite 90 degrees. But at any rate, there dosn't seem to be any particular reason why that is. It is just the way it is. As far as extra solar planetary systems. They seem to be at all angles with respect to the Earth and the plane of the galaxy. The easiest ones for us to find happen to be aligned edge on with us.

Answer 4

The plane of the galaxy just doesn't have that much of an affect on the plane of forming solar systems.

I checked Celestia program and there is no real rhyme or reason to the plane of a solar systems. Forming star systems are chaotic and the plane is determined by random minute variables that are nearly impossible to discern according to Chaos Theory.

Its kinda like how the Coriolis Effect is supposed to control the angular direction of water spinning but is often determined by the initial movements of the water or the shape of the bowl in the case of toilets and drinking fountains.  

Answer 5

It isn't 90 degrees, it's actually close to 60 degrees. The angle is probably changing very slowly (since everything in space is either moving or rotating). The formation of solar systems depends on an initial, relatively small-scale distribution of matter which happenes to coalesce in a plane not necessarily similar to the larger-scale formation of galaxies. Bear in mind that this difference of scale is of the order of tens of thousands to one.

Answer 6

Actually, the angle is more like 60°. The plane of the ecliptic was determined by the initial rotation of the solar nebula that condensed to form our solar system, which was in turn determined by local gravitational forces. The gravitational force of nearby stars and gas clouds is stronger than any influence from galactic rotation, so the orientation of solar systems is essentially random. You also have to remember that the galaxy was already maybe 7 or 8 billion years old when our solar system formed.