Watt
10sparks

Directions of planetary motion

All eight planets orbit the Sun in the same direction: viewed from above the Sun’s north pole, their motion is counterclockwise. Most also rotate on their axes in the same general direction. Venus rotates retrograde, while Uranus is tipped almost on its side (about 98° axial tilt), so its rotation is also commonly described as retrograde relative to its orbit.

The planets share an orbital direction, but not all spin the same way.