Figure 11-4: Prograde and Retrograde Rotation (a) If you could view the solar system from a point several astronomical units above Earth’s north pole, you would see all of the planets orbiting the Sun in a counterclockwise direction. Most of the planets also rotate counterclockwise on their axes in prograde (forward) rotation. (b) Venus is an exception; from your perspective high above the plane of the solar system, you would see Venus rotating clockwise in retrograde (backward) rotation.