Prograde
The spinning rotation of a planet from east to west is called retrograde rotation. This is the opposite direction to the majority of planets in our solar system, which rotate from west to east in a prograde rotation.
Retrograde rotation is when an object rotates in the opposite direction of its orbit. This is opposite to the more common prograde rotation, where the rotation and orbit are in the same direction. An example is Venus, which rotates on its axis in a retrograde direction compared to the direction it orbits the Sun.
Retrograde motion is the opposite of prograde motion.So, retrograde motion is where a body is moving in the direction opposite to the movement of something else. Not to be confused with apparent retrograde motion. [See related link]If you were on a child's roundabout and your friend was running alongside in the same direction you were spinning, that would be prograde. If however, your friend turned around and ran the opposite way, that would be retrograde motion. [See related link for a pictorial]In astronomy:The Earth and four other planets rotate in the same direction as the Sun does; Prograde.Venus and Uranus rotate in the opposite direction; retrograde.Do not confuse this with retrograde revolution, as no planet revolves in the opposite direction to the Sun.See related link for a full explanation.
Venus and Uranus are two planets in our solar system that have a retrograde rotation, meaning they rotate in the opposite direction of their orbit around the Sun. This retrograde motion is quite unique compared to the other planets which have a prograde rotation.
Pluto, like most bodies in the solar system, has a prograde orbit (inclination: ~17° from the ecliptic).Its rotation is retrograde, though (inclined at ~120°).
prograde rotation
Prograde rotation is the rotation of an object in the same direction as its orbit around another object, while retrograde rotation is the rotation in the opposite direction of its orbit. For example, most planets in our solar system have prograde rotation, where they rotate counterclockwise when viewed from above the North Pole. Venus, however, has retrograde rotation, rotating clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.
Prograde. In our solar system, prograde is counterclockwise rotation or revolution. Retrograde is clockwise rotation or revolution.Clockwise and counterclockwise are "as viewed from above the Earth's north pole".All solar system planets have a prograde rotation except Venus and Uranus which have retrograde rotation.All the planets have prograde orbital motion (revolution) around the Sun.So, Mercury has prograde motion in both cases.
Phobos, one of Mars' moons, orbits in a prograde motion around Mars, meaning it follows the same direction as the planet's rotation.
The Earth's rotation is prograde, meaning it rotates in the same direction as its orbit around the Sun. This is also known as "counterclockwise" when viewed from above the North Pole.
The spinning rotation of a planet from east to west is called retrograde rotation. This is the opposite direction to the majority of planets in our solar system, which rotate from west to east in a prograde rotation.
Retrograde rotation is when an object rotates in the opposite direction of its orbit. This is opposite to the more common prograde rotation, where the rotation and orbit are in the same direction. An example is Venus, which rotates on its axis in a retrograde direction compared to the direction it orbits the Sun.
Retrograde motion is the opposite of prograde motion.So, retrograde motion is where a body is moving in the direction opposite to the movement of something else. Not to be confused with apparent retrograde motion. [See related link]If you were on a child's roundabout and your friend was running alongside in the same direction you were spinning, that would be prograde. If however, your friend turned around and ran the opposite way, that would be retrograde motion. [See related link for a pictorial]In astronomy:The Earth and four other planets rotate in the same direction as the Sun does; Prograde.Venus and Uranus rotate in the opposite direction; retrograde.Do not confuse this with retrograde revolution, as no planet revolves in the opposite direction to the Sun.See related link for a full explanation.
Venus and Uranus are two planets in our solar system that have a retrograde rotation, meaning they rotate in the opposite direction of their orbit around the Sun. This retrograde motion is quite unique compared to the other planets which have a prograde rotation.
Pluto, like most bodies in the solar system, has a prograde orbit (inclination: ~17° from the ecliptic).Its rotation is retrograde, though (inclined at ~120°).
Simple answer: Venus has "retrograde" rotation.A more complicated answer. Venus rotates in the opposite direction compared with Earth and most other planets in our solar system. The Earth's rotation is "prograde". It rotates in the counterclockwise direction, when viewed from above the North Pole.However it is possible to define the "North Pole" of Venus in two different ways.It can be said that, on one definition, Venus also rotates in the direction that'scounterclockwise as viewed from above its North Pole.Still, nearly always, you will find the rotation referred to as "retrograde", so the simple answer is OK.Anyway, Venus definitely rotates in a direction that's opposite to its direction of orbital revolution.
Retrograde motion refers to the behaviour of an outer planet while it is overtaken by the Earth, around the time of opposition. At that time the planet appears to move backwards along the ecliptic.