Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Zer0 on 06/10/2022 14:56:21

Title: Orientation in Space?
Post by: Zer0 on 06/10/2022 14:56:21
Pretty simple query.

Whenever an image of the Solar System is presented, it shows Planets revolving in an anticlockwise direction, exception for Venus.

Is that in accord when We consider the North Pole to be atop?

What if someone flips the image bottoms up, considering the South Pole as Top?

Would the Planets then seem to move in a Clockwise direction, again with an exception to Venus?

P.S. - i know it's a very kiddish question, still hoping someone answers.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Orientation in Space?
Post by: Origin on 06/10/2022 15:22:23
Whenever an image of the Solar System is presented, it shows Planets revolving in an anticlockwise direction, exception for Venus.
Even Venus is revolving counter clockwise.
Is that in accord when We consider the North Pole to be atop?
Yes.
What if someone flips the image bottoms up, considering the South Pole as Top?

Would the Planets then seem to move in a Clockwise direction,
Yes.
I notice one time you said revolve and another time you said move, so I am not sure if you mean rotate or orbit.  Venus orbits and rotates in the same direction as the other planets.  The exception to the direction of rotation is Neptune, who's axis is not in a 'north south' orientation.
Title: Re: Orientation in Space?
Post by: Janus on 06/10/2022 16:28:41
Whenever an image of the Solar System is presented, it shows Planets revolving in an anticlockwise direction, exception for Venus.
Even Venus is revolving counter clockwise.
Is that in accord when We consider the North Pole to be atop?
Yes.
What if someone flips the image bottoms up, considering the South Pole as Top?

Would the Planets then seem to move in a Clockwise direction,
Yes.
I notice one time you said revolve and another time you said move, so I am not sure if you mean rotate or orbit.  Venus orbits and rotates in the same direction as the other planets.  The exception to the direction of rotation is Neptune, who's axis is not in a 'north south' orientation.

The reason we tend to view the solar system from the direction we do has to do with the geographical coincidence that the majority of the land mass of Earth is in the Northern hemisphere, and thus the civilizations that tend to dominate the World view originated there.
Along with Venus, Uranus, technically, does have a "retrograde" rotation.  It is tilted 97 degrees to the ecliptic.  Venus has an axial tilt of 177.34 degrees.  Pluto, with an axial tilt of 122.52 degrees is also retrograde. (And since Charon is tidally locked to Pluto, the pair orbit in the same direction.

There are also several Moons with retrograde orbits.  Though, the term retrograde here means relative to the planet's rotation.
These include a few outer moons of Jupiter, one of Saturn, and Triton (Neptune's largest moon).
Uranus has some moons that orbit retrograde to itself, which means they orbit in the same direction as the most of the rest of the Solar system.
Title: Re: Orientation in Space?
Post by: Halc on 06/10/2022 16:30:50
Whenever an image of the Solar System is presented, it shows Planets revolving in an anticlockwise direction, exception for Venus.
Revolution means motion around (orbit), and(as Origin correctly points out) Venus goes the same way as the others. Its spin (rotation) on the other hand is reversed, spinning nearly 180° opposite of its orbit.

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Is that in accord when We consider the North Pole to be atop?
Yes. If you choose to depict the solar system from the other side, they'd all appear to go around the other way, just like if you watch a glass clock run from behind it.

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Would the Planets then seem to move in a Clockwise direction, again with an exception to Venus?
Again, it orbits the same direction as the others.


The exception to the direction of rotation is Neptune
Neptune's rotates (orbits) the same way. Its tilt is similar to that of Earth, under 30°. It's Uranus with the weird tilt to its axis, over 97°, meaning technically it, like Venus (tilt 177°) spins backwards, but in the case of Uranus, 'sideways' describes it far better than 'backwards'.
Title: Re: Orientation in Space?
Post by: Zer0 on 07/10/2022 03:09:41
WoW!
A Revolutionary moment indeed.

For some odd reason, most of my life, i have been believing that Venus Revolved Clockwise.

Thanks to All for correcting the direction of my venus straight.
🙏

P.S. - Why do they say Men are from Mars?
Because it is Cold & Bland?
& Why do they say Women are from Venus?
Coz it's Hot & Weird?