<p>This video provides a visual answer: <a href="https://youtu.be/MTY1Kje0yLg?t=3m24s" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/MTY1Kje0yLg?t=3m24s</a>
objects orbiting in different directions are more likely to collide with each other. By the process of elimination, eventually one direction of orbit dominates.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-14T07:02:30.437Z
2015-08-14T07:02:30.437Z
prfarlow
<p>In different systems, the cloud that creates it starts with one direction of angular momentum (spin). This is because of the initial conditions as the gas cloud collapsed in on itself to create a star and planets around it. 
However, some orbits will move in the opposite direction but will normally be destroyed due to collisions with other orbits in the dominant orbit direction. In Galaxies though there will always be a few exceptions</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-16T19:33:44.293Z
2015-08-16T19:33:44.293Z
Lentill
<p>In a solar system or a planet that has many moons, why do their orbiting objects all orbit in the same direction?</p>

<p>Is it possible for two orbiting masses to orbit in the opposite direction of each other?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-14T10:22:21.810Z
They don't all orbit in the same direction - there are quite a few examples of prograde moons. Here's a bit of background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrograde_and_prograde_motion
Andy
<orbit><gravity>
Why do objects all orbit in the same direction?
AnonDCX
# Why do objects all orbit in the same direction?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-14)

In a solar system or a planet that has many moons, why do their orbiting objects all orbit in the same direction?

Is it possible for two orbiting masses to orbit in the opposite direction of each other?

**Tags:** orbit, gravity

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: They don't all orbit in the same direction - there are quite a few examples of prograde moons. Here's a bit of background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrograde_and_prograde_motion  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-14. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

This video provides a visual answer: <https://youtu.be/MTY1Kje0yLg?t=3m24s>
objects orbiting in different directions are more likely to collide with each other. By the process of elimination, eventually one direction of orbit dominates.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-16. Score: 1

In different systems, the cloud that creates it starts with one direction of angular momentum (spin). This is because of the initial conditions as the gas cloud collapsed in on itself to create a star and planets around it.
However, some orbits will move in the opposite direction but will normally be destroyed due to collisions with other orbits in the dominant orbit direction. In Galaxies though there will always be a few exceptions


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