Why do planets orbit at the same level as each other?

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By that, I mean, why do planets always orbit… horizontally(?) around the sun. Why not vertically? Space is a 3D space, I’d course. So why would the planets not end up going up as well as sideways?

Edit: Space science is a lot more complicated than I thought, and I am here for this rabbit hole. Ty everyone for your answers so far!

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Further adding to op’s question: how self correcting is the orbital plane? During the early stages of the solar system, some major collisions occurred such as Earth and Theia. The extreme axial tilt of Venus may have been caused by a massive impact. Perhaps many of the early protoplanets that suffered these impacts are no longer part of the solar system today, but how much deviation to orbital plane would these events generate and how did the present solar system restore its plane?

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