Here's the breakdown:
* Most planets rotate in the same direction as they orbit the sun, which is counterclockwise when viewed from above Earth's north pole. This is called prograde rotation. This includes: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
* Venus rotates in the opposite direction, which is clockwise. This is called retrograde rotation. It's a bit of a mystery why Venus rotates this way, but it's thought to be the result of a massive collision early in its history.
* Uranus also rotates in a unique way, tilted almost 90 degrees on its side. It's not quite retrograde, but it's definitely not prograde either. It's thought that a collision with a large object in the early solar system caused this extreme tilt.
So, while most planets follow the same rotational pattern, Venus and Uranus are exceptions, showcasing the dynamic and complex nature of our solar system's formation.
