<p>It is ,of course, gravity which keeps the planets circling the sun. They are actually falling toward the sun, but as the sun is a sphere, its surface keeps curving away, so they never get any closer to it. Because they are in a state of free fall, they are in effect weightless with respect to the sun, just as the space station is weightless with respect to the Earth, and as they use no energy in falling they can do it for ever. If you are wondering why you don't feel weightless, that's because of the gravitational field of the Earth. If the space station was a massive body like the moon.the astronauts wouldn't be weightless,but although the space station has a gravitational field of its own it is so trivial that it has no measurable effect on the astronauts.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-05T11:14:18.103Z
2019-07-05T11:14:18.103Z
Michael Walsby
<p>Models of the solar system show each planet moving around on its own orbit.</p>

<p>Is is really because of the Sun that every planets remains in its own fixed orbit?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-05T07:05:59.867Z
What made you think planets stay in place? Planets orbit the sun due to its gravitational pull. Try a [gravity sandbox](https://www.testtubegames.com/gravity.html) to see how that stuff works.
SF.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-05T07:24:32.910Z
Hi @Kelly I've made a small edit to your question. I think it still reflects what is is you'd like to understand better, but have a look.
uhoh
<the-sun><planet><solar-system><earth>
What keeps the planets of the solar system moving in their fixed orbits?
Kelly
# What keeps the planets of the solar system moving in their fixed orbits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-05)

Models of the solar system show each planet moving around on its own orbit.

Is is really because of the Sun that every planets remains in its own fixed orbit?

**Tags:** the-sun, planet, solar-system, earth

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What made you think planets stay in place? Planets orbit the sun due to its gravitational pull. Try a [gravity sandbox](https://www.testtubegames.com/gravity.html) to see how that stuff works.  
> **username_2**: Hi @username_0 I've made a small edit to your question. I think it still reflects what is is you'd like to understand better, but have a look.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-07-05. Score: 1

It is ,of course, gravity which keeps the planets circling the sun. They are actually falling toward the sun, but as the sun is a sphere, its surface keeps curving away, so they never get any closer to it. Because they are in a state of free fall, they are in effect weightless with respect to the sun, just as the space station is weightless with respect to the Earth, and as they use no energy in falling they can do it for ever. If you are wondering why you don't feel weightless, that's because of the gravitational field of the Earth. If the space station was a massive body like the moon.the astronauts wouldn't be weightless,but although the space station has a gravitational field of its own it is so trivial that it has no measurable effect on the astronauts.


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