What astronomical condition on another world causes the Sun to rise in the West for its inhabitants?
Answer
Retrograde rotation
The only common astronomical context that results in the Sun rising in the West is being located on a world that exhibits retrograde rotation. This term signifies that the planet spins backward, or opposite, to the direction of rotation of Earth. Because the observer's planetary motion is flipped, the apparent motion of the Sun—which is normally seen rising in the East due to the observer's rotation—is inverted. Consequently, on such a world, the Sun would commence its visible journey above the horizon from the West and conclude it by setting in the East, effectively inverting the standard day cycle.
Related Questions
For observers on Earth, which direction does a celestial object typically ascend above the horizon?What movement creates the illusion that the Sun, Moon, and planets traverse the sky from East to West?According to mid-December sky data, in which direction does Jupiter rise for an observer on the West Coast of the USA?Where is Mercury noted to be observable rising approximately 45 minutes before sunrise in mid-December?What aspect of a planet's motion is *not* reversed during its period of retrograde motion observed from Earth?Which two planets are specifically referenced as rotating backward, causing their inhabitants to see the Sun rise in the West?What astronomical condition on another world causes the Sun to rise in the West for its inhabitants?When viewed from above the North Pole, in which direction does the Earth spin on its axis?If an observer waits in the western sky for a planet like Venus, what will they witness just before the planet disappears?What terrestrial observation detail is critical for catching the first glimpse of a rising planet like Mercury?