# Venus (DD-132)

> Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, a retrograde rotation, so the Sun would rise in the west. It is also the slowest-spinning major planet: one rotation relative to the stars (a sidereal day) takes about 243 Earth days, longer than its 225-day orbit around the Sun. Because of the combined motions, a solar day on Venus, sunrise to sunrise, lasts about 117 Earth days. The cause of the retrograde spin is unsettled; ideas include a giant impact and tidal effects of its thick atmosphere. The footage shows images of Venus, with the presenter.

- Department: Space
- First published: 2023-12-20
- Last updated: 2023-12-20
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/venus/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-132-F01**: Venus rotates opposite to most planets. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Retrograde))_
- **DD-132-F02**: One sidereal rotation takes about 243 Earth days. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (243 days))_

## Write-up

A day on Venus is longer than its year. Venus spins backward once every 243 Earth days.

1. **Retrograde**: Venus rotates opposite to most planets.
2. **243 days**: One sidereal rotation takes about 243 Earth days.
3. **225-day year**: Its year is about 225 Earth days.
4. **117-day solar day**: Sunrise to sunrise is about 117 Earth days.
5. **Unsettled cause**: The reason for the backward spin is debated.

## Related case files

- [Uranus (DD-127)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/uranus/): I paired it with another planet with an odd spin
- [Mercury (DD-133)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mercury/): I paired the two inner planets with extreme days
- [Earth (DD-131)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/earth/): I linked Earth's near-twin in size

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'Clockwise' and 'counterclockwise' depend on viewpoint; seen from above the north pole, Earth spins counterclockwise and Venus clockwise. 'A day is longer than a year' holds for the sidereal day; the solar day (about 117 days) is shorter.

## Video: Venus: A Day on Venus Is Longer Than Its Year

- Duration: 26.0 s · Published: 2023-12-20
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1Gbcx_toY1.mp4

### Transcript

Venus experiences a phenomenon known as retrograde where it rotates on its axis in the opposite to most planets in our solar system. DID YOU KNOW? While earth rotates counterclockwise Venus rotates clockwise. Additionally Venus has an extremely slow rotation taking about 243 Earth days to complete one rotation which is longer than its orbital year around the This means that a day on Venus, one full rotation, is actually longer than a year on Venus. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Which way does Venus spin?**  
A: The Sun rises in the west. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Retrograde) · Wikipedia: Venus)_

**Q: How long is one rotation?**  
A: Sidereal day. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (243 days) · Wikipedia: Venus)_

**Q: How long is Venus's year?**  
A: Shorter than its rotation. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (225-day year) · Wikipedia: Venus)_

**Q: How long is sunrise to sunrise?**  
A: The solar day. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (117-day solar day) · Wikipedia: Venus)_

**Q: Is the cause of its spin settled?**  
A: Impacts and atmosphere are ideas. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Unsettled cause) · Wikipedia: Venus)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Venus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Venus." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-132, last updated Dec 20, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/venus/