Most planets in our solar system rotate counterclockwise (or prograde) when viewed from above the Sun’s north pole. However, Venus and Uranus are exceptions—they rotate clockwise, a motion called retrograde rotation. Venus rotates extremely slowly and in the opposite direction of most other planets. Scientists believe this might be due to a massive collision with another celestial body early in its formation, or the result of strong atmospheric tides caused by the Sun’s gravitational pull, which gradually reversed its spin over billions of years.

Uranus, on the other hand, is tilted so far on its side—about 98 degrees—that it essentially rolls along its orbit. This extreme tilt likely came from a colossal impact with an Earth-sized object long ago, knocking it over and altering its rotation. As a result, Uranus appears to spin retrograde, though it’s really a matter of perspective due to its sideways orientation. These unusual rotations remind us that the early solar system was a chaotic place, where violent collisions and gravitational forces shaped the planets we see today.