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Retrograde means - sort of - backwards. To understand forward and backward, however, we need to understand the point of reference...

The planets (and asteroids and comets, etc.) revolve around the Sun. We arbitrarily called the revolution of the Earth around the Sun counter clockwise, meaning that the path is reverse that of a clock face, when you look down on the plane of the ecliptic (the path of the Earth around the Sun) from a position that is in the direction of the north pole star, or Polaris.

Using that same perspective, i.e. looking down from celestial north, we observe that most of the planets also rotate about their own axes in a counter clockwise direction. That is why the Sun appears to rise in the East and set in the West.

Six of the eight planets, Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, have this "normal" counter clockwise rotation. Each planet's axis is also tilted in varying degrees to the ecliptic, but you can still consider them to be rotating counter clockwise.

Two of the planets, however, Venus and Uranus, have what we call retrograde rotation. This means that, when viewed from celestial north, they rotate clockwise, instead of counter clockwise. Their revolution (or orbit) around the Sun is still counter clockwise, but their rotation around their own axes is clockwise. That is retrograde rotation.

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Related Questions

What is the definition of retrograde 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.


Which planets have retrograde?

If you mean "retrograde rotation", they are Venus and Uranus.


Is Earth a retrograde or prograde rotation?

prograde rotation


Is Pluto a retrograde rotation planet?

It is a Dwarf planet that has a retrograde axial spin or rotation. Clockwise from above its north pole.


What is the spinning rotation of a planet from east to west?

Retrograde rotation


How does retrograde rotation compared with the rotation of Earth?

It means that the rotation is in the opposite direction.


Which plantes have retrograde rotation?

AVenus


Does Venus have a retrograde rotation?

No it doesn't


Which inner planet has a retrograde rotation?

Venus is the inner planet that has a retrograde rotation, meaning it rotates on its axis in the opposite direction to its orbit around the sun. This causes the sun to rise in the west and set in the east on Venus.


Which planets orbit in a retrograde rotation?

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.


What planet has an retrograde rotation?

Venus and Uranus


What is difference between prograde rotation and retrograde 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.