Why is it the only planet spinning the other way?
2006-07-05 15:55:40 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
All planets orbit in the same direction around the sun. Six of the nine planets (we'll not worry about the "10th" planet that was recently discovered until more information is in) rotate (or spin on their axes) in the same direction as their orbital motion.
Venus rotates "backwards, spinning in the direction opposite of its orbit. This is called retrograde rotation.
Uranus is more or less lying on its side so that as it orbits the sun, its north and south pole will alternately point toward the sun. Since its equator is tilted about 97 degrees from its orbital motion, is is defined to have a retrograde rotation.
Pluto is kind of in between, with its spin axis tilted more than Uranus' but less than Venus. Since its equator is tilted more than 90 degrees (about 120 degrees) from its orbit, it is defined to have a retrograde (backwards) rotation.
2006-07-05 16:42:22 · answer #1 · answered by not_2_worried 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not. Perhaps you're thinking of Venus, the only planet with a retrograde rotation:
If viewed from above the Sun's north pole, all of the planets are orbiting in an anticlockwise direction; but while most planets also rotate anticlockwise, Venus rotates clockwise in "retrograde" rotation. The question of how Venus came have a slow, retrograde rotation was a major puzzle for scientists when the planet's rotation period was first measured. When it formed from the solar nebula, Venus would have had a much faster, prograde rotation, but calculations show that over billions of years, tidal effects on its dense atmosphere could have slowed down its initial rotation to the value seen today
Hope this helps!
2006-07-05 23:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by fresh2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The intergalactic council voted on this back in 1976. They figured that the residents of Mars could save millions in each year in energy costs if they could make the planet spin in reverse.
2006-07-05 23:01:18 · answer #3 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't. Mars revolves in its orbit around the Sun and rotates on it's axis in the same direction as Earth does.
2006-07-05 23:47:02 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars is not but Venus, Uranus, and Pluto is. I am not to sure why they orbit backwards though but Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune would appear to be orbiting backwards if you were on either Venus, Uranus, or Pluto.
2006-07-06 01:53:51 · answer #5 · answered by Eric X 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean retrograde? (appear to be moving backwards?) How it looks as we overtake it once a year untill we pass it in our orbit
2006-07-05 22:58:48 · answer #6 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cool
2006-07-05 23:00:41 · answer #7 · answered by sarah c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋