Why does Venus rotate in the opposite direction to all the other planets in our solar system?

Question

And if you are feeling particularly bright this Friday, why is it phase locked to earth?

Answer 1

It is not the only planet in the solar system to rotate in a retrograde fashion. Uranus and Pluto do too, as do many of the satellites of the larger planets.
It is usually believed that there has been some kind of collision that has caused the unusual features in the orbit and rotations that exist.
Venus is one of the original seven "planets" of the ancient world. This is the sun and moon(NOT planets, but who knew that then?) Venus Mercury Mars Jupiter Saturn. They are all named after gods, and the days of the week are named after the same gods (only Nordic gods, not Roman). The other planets were discovered in modern times, and are also named after gods.
Venus does have phases like the moon,but I never heard that they were locked to the earth. Are you referring to the fact that on each close approach to earth Venus always presents the same face? (This happens approximately every 5 venereal days) I think the reason for this is uncertain, could be coincidence, or could be similar to the tidal locking that means we only see one side of the moon.

Answer 2

Venus, or any other planet for that matter, doesn't actually rotate in the opposite direction of other planets.
It only appears to rotate backwards to us here on Earth. It's called retrograde. And for Venus, the amount of time spent in retrograde is less than six weeks long.

Not sure about the phase lock with Earth though.

Answer 3

There is a hypothesis that venus was not an orginal planet of the solar system.In the theory of expanding universe ,once up on a time many solar system were close,and due to the gravity of our Sun venus was drawn into our solar system.the opposite rotation,composition of venus etc support this speculation.In Greek Mythology,Venus is God,not a planet.

Answer 4

Nobody can say for sure how Venus got there. It wasn't mentioned by ancient astronomers (by ancient I mean really ancient), which was weird because it's one of the most prominent sights in the sky and then, at some turning point, it suddenly appears in later text.

There was one speculation that it is actually a vessel although it does sound a bit far fetched to me.

Answer 5

think its pretty brutal that a Venus day is longer than a Venus year too.

if my mammories serve me correctly its 227 earth days for a Venus year
and 243 earth days for a Venus day

that's just weird man

Answer 6

Venus as a female Deity just has to be different!!

Answer 7

because it is very slow a day on venus corresponds to 243 Earth's days.At praesent we have no solid explanation for why this is so.

Answer 8

it is affected by the closeness of the Sun and the rate that mars moves in its orbit. Also its female. hmmm

Answer 9

maybe it contains elements with opposit charge that are affected by the magnatic field in opposit direction

Answer 10

Scientists aren't completely sure, but current thinking is that it's due to tidal effects.