Most planets on tilted orbits pass over the poles of their suns

The surprising discovery may reveal how misaligned worlds arise

planet orbiting star WASP-79

A planet circling the star WASP-79 (illustrated) orbits above and below the poles of its sun.

NASA, ESA and L. Hustak/STScI

Earth is on an orderly path around the sun, orbiting in nearly the same plane as our star’s equator.