What is a retrograde rotation?
Quick Answer
Retrograde rotation means a planet spins in the opposite direction to most planets. Venus and Uranus are the best-known examples in the Solar System.
The Full Story
Most planets spin in the same general direction as they orbit the Sun, but a few rotate differently. Venus has a very slow retrograde spin, taking about 243 Earth days to rotate once, and Uranus rotates in a tilted, unusual way that makes its spin effectively retrograde. Scientists think these odd rotations may have been caused by giant impacts or complex early evolution. Retrograde rotation can affect day length, atmospheric circulation and how sunlight falls over a planet’s surface.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The planets that spin backward"
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