Is it true that Venus is the only planet that spins clockwise?

Question

Heard that on the radio today

Answer 1

Yes, it's true; Venus spins clockwise when observed from "above" the ecliptic, assuming Earth's north pole points upwards. this type of rotation is also called retrograde, because the direction of spin opposes the direction of the planet's orbit. Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune all spin counterclockwise, which is called prograde rotation. Uranus spins on its side and could be considered to spin clockwise, but instead is usually said to spin counterclockwise with an axial tilt greater than 90 degrees.

Answer 2

Venus is the only planet in the Solar System to turn clockwise. All other planets turn anti-clockwise. It rotates clockwise on its axis extremely slowly, suggesting that something might have once collided with it to disrupt its regular rotation

Answer 3

There is no such thing as "clockwise". The solar system does not have a "top" or "bottom". It is equally valid to view it from either side. If you view a spinning object from one side, it will appear to be rotating clockwise. If you view it from the other side, it will appear to be rotating counter-clockwise.

Essentially, the "clockwise-ness" of a spinning object depends on where you are when you look at it.

Answer 4

It is meaningless unless you specify where are you looking from because if the spin is CW looking at the north pole, then the spin is CCW looking at the south pole. So you can have it either way.

Answer 5

Yes it is, although Uranus is knocked nearly on it's side - probably from a massive collision long ago.

Answer 6

yes I believe it is

Answer 7

that we are aware of