Asteroid Revelation

On February 15th 2013 a huge asteroid brushed past planet earth moving in its orbit from south to north.  But wait … The planets, as I know them all move along the same east-west plane around the sun.  I had no idea that anything circled the sun in a north-south orbit.

Are we entering a field of deadly north-south projectiles?  When did we pass by one of these in years past?  Why is the orbit direction important?

Think of it this way.  This asteroid didn’t overtake us.  It almost crossed our path.  It’s like inviting a “T-Bone” auto accident.  Lethal.