JPL Website Wrong: Venus & Uranus Rotate Opposite

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the rotational directions of Venus and Uranus as depicted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) website, specifically addressing claims about their rotation being incorrectly represented. The scope includes conceptual clarifications about planetary rotation versus revolution and the implications of viewing angles.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that the JPL website incorrectly shows Venus and Uranus rotating counterclockwise, claiming they actually rotate clockwise when viewed from the North Pole side of the universe.
  • Another participant questions how the rotation direction of Uranus can be determined due to its featureless appearance in simulations and clarifies the distinction between "rotation" and "revolution."
  • A different participant introduces the right-hand rule to explain planetary rotation, suggesting that while Venus and Uranus have inclined axes, they still rotate correctly according to this rule.
  • A later reply acknowledges confusion between rotation around the sun and axial spin, indicating a misunderstanding of the terms used in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct rotational direction of Venus and Uranus, with no consensus reached on the accuracy of the JPL depiction. The distinction between rotation and revolution is clarified, but confusion remains regarding the implications of viewing angles.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of terminology (rotation vs. revolution) and the effects of viewing angles on perceived motion. The discussion does not resolve these ambiguities.

Philosophaie
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JPL Website is Wrong!

Recently I wrote a letter to Jet Propultion Laboratory's Webmaster but never got a response. It stated that the Solar Simulator on their website http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/
is wrong even considering there was no inclination, i, is for all planets. Still the planets Venus and Uranus rotate counterclockwise as time passes if viewed from the North Pole side of the universe. The rest of the planets rotate clockwise, as time passes if viewed from the North Poleside of the universe. In JPL's depiction all the planets rotate counterclockwise. Am I wrong or is this not the case?
 
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Uranus is featureless in those simulations. How can you tell which way it rotates?

Are you confusing "rotates" with "revolves"?

Rotate refers to the direction the planet spins on its axis, while revolve refers to the direction the planet moves in its orbit around the Sun.

All planets in our solar system revolve counterclockwise as viewed from North.
 


If we use the right-hand-rule for planet rotation then all planets rotate correctly, its just that Venus and Uranus do so at very inclined angles.

To find the north pole of a planet think of your right thumb as representing the pole and have your fingers curl in the direction of the planet's rotation. You'll find that for Earth your thumb points up, sideways for Uranus, and almost straight down for Venus.

Also note that from the Sun's north pole, looking down on the Solar System, the planets both rotate and revolve counter-clockwise.
 
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My bad, got rotation around the sun and axial spin confused.
 

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