A planet's year length depends on its distance from the Sun. Planets closer to the Sun have shorter years. A planet's rotation speed is unrelated to its year length. Planets' orbital speeds vary ...

Jupiter boasts the shortest day in our solar system, completing a rotation in just under 10 hours. This rapid spin, a result of its immense size, gaseous composition, and retained angular momentum ...

Discover the only planet in our solar system that rotates clockwise. Learn why this 'rebel' planet spins backwards, how a ...

A planet's north pole is defined by its position relative to the solar system's invariable plane. The invariable plane is a fixed reference point perpendicular to the solar system's rotation. A planet ...

Thanks to NASA's Cassini spacecraft which has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, scientists have been able to observe for the first time ever the seasonal atmospheric circulation direction change on ...

Tracking the rotation speed of solid planets, like the Earth and Mars, is a relatively simple task: Just measure the time it takes for a surface feature to roll into view again. But giant gas planets ...

These interactions lead to changes in a planet's rotation and temperature, accelerating one and raising the other. Scientists can observe these changes, and the authors have developed a new approach ...