Why does Venus rotate so slowly and backwards?
Quick Answer
Venus spins in the opposite direction from most planets and takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once, likely due to a mix of giant impacts and atmospheric tides.
The Full Story
Venus is unusual because it has a retrograde rotation, meaning it spins in the opposite direction from Earth and most other planets. One Venus day lasts about 243 Earth days, which is longer than its 225-day orbit around the Sun. Scientists think its slow, reversed spin may have resulted from early collisions and long-term tidal effects between the planet’s thick atmosphere and its solid body. Although the exact history is still debated, Venus remains one of the strangest rotators in the solar system.
Key Facts
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