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Which of the following planets orbit the Sun in retrograde (in the opposite direction from the other planets)?

A) Mercury.
B) Venus.
C) Earth.
D) Mars.
E) None of the above.

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets, showing retrograde rotation, but all planets orbit the Sun in the same direction. 'None of the above' is the correct answer for retrograde orbit around the Sun.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question of which planet orbits the Sun in retrograde is Venus. While all the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction (prograde motion), retrograde rotation is a different concept referring to the direction a planet spins on its axis. Most planets spin in the same direction as they orbit (prograde rotation), but Venus rotates very slowly in the opposite direction – this is known as retrograde rotation.

However, the term 'retrograde orbit' might be misleading, as no planet in our solar system has a retrograde orbit around the Sun; rather, they may display retrograde motion as seen from Earth due to relative positions in their orbits. So, within the options provided, letter E 'None of the above' is the correct answer if we are strictly speaking about orbital direction. However, if we interpret the question as asking about rotation, then Venus exhibits the retrograde rotation.

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