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Most planets rotate in the direction of their orbit, which is to say, if viewed from the NORTH pole, if they orbit counterclockwise, they rotate counterclockwise as if they were rolling around the sun on its surface. If they are rotating the opposite direction, it is called

RETROGRADE rotation. It is rare, but it does happen. Many scientist seem to believe this can only happen by some physical event such as a collision, or by the object in question being captured by the gravity of the primary as it wandered by.

(Uranus orbits lying on its side, with one pole toward the sun).

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