quote:
Originally posted by redstang281:
why?
http://www.cosmiverse.com/space06140106.html
In summary, the planets rotation was never fast in the first place, but because of recent evidences of Venus' mantle structure, the friction would have caused even more slowing, as well as atmospheric friction (Venus' atmosphere is much denser than ours). Once the day becomes longer than the year, the planet is rotating "backwards".
Additionally, in a rotating, condensing, coalescing system, motion in the opposite direction is not precluded due to eddies, collision etc. Not that this has been shown to account for the spin of Venus.
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Occam's razor is not for shaving with.
[This message has been edited by mark24, 01-11-2002]