What is the planet that spins in the opposite rotation of the earth?

Answer 1

Venus and Uranus exhibit rotations that are different from the other 6 major planets, including Earth, likely for the same reason but with very different results. These are classified as 'retrograde' compared to the west-to-east, counter-clockwise rotation that all planets are assumed to have initially possessed.

Venus - likely due to some cataclysmic impact early in its history, Venus has lost its counter-clockwise rotation, and now turns very slowly clockwise. It takes 243 days to spin once, and does not generate a strong planetary magnetic field.

Uranus - the gas giant retains its original spin, which was west-to-east, but has been "knocked over" onto its side, again likely by some large impact event. Its tilt is about 98° from the perpendicular position, so that during its orbit, its poles will each point toward the Sun at some point. Because its original North Pole is now facing slightly below the orbital plane, it can be said to always rotate clockwise, or east-to-west, as seen from above.

This affects the apparent length of days for the planet, although for a gas giant this has much less relevance. When one of its poles faces the Sun, the entire opposite hemisphere receives little or no sunlight. When a side of the planet faces the Sun, there is a more equal distribution. Its year is equal to 84.3 Earth years and it spins once every 17.24 Earth hours.

RETROGRADE CLASSIFICATION

• Venus' rotation is around 177° off normal, meaning that although its axis is in roughly the same direction as all others, because of the direction of its rotation it is also "upside down" compared to the others, and also classed as retrograde.
• Uranus' rotation is around 98° off normal, meaning that at different times in the year, each pole is pointing almost directly at the sun. It is not so much spinning in the opposite direction as it is laying on its side, but because the axial tilt is higher than 90o it is classed as retrograde.

In our solar system, Venus rotates "upside down" - the opposite direction in which it orbits. Uranus rotates on its side, about 98 degrees to the orbital plane.

Answer 2

All of the planets turn in the direction that's right for them.

Venus' rotation is retrograde ... that is, it spins about its own axis in the opposite direction that it revolves around the Sun.

Uranus' is also technically "retrograde" in that its axis is tilted slightly more than 90 degress from the perpendicular to its own orbital plane (perfectly retrograde would be 180 degrees; Venus has a tilt of 177 degrees). This means that Uranus is essentially "lying on its side".

Answer 3

Earth revolves around the sun while rotating on its sides

Answer 4

Venus. But very slowly! The "day" on Venus is actually longer than the "year".

Answer 5

planets, cosmic dust, comets, asteroids, moons, satellites, aliens :), etc.

Answer 6

Unlike all the other planets and most of the moons in our Solar System Uranus spins on its side. It is believed that long ago a very large object smashed into this planet.

Answer 7

Venus.