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Which planet appears to spin on its side?

Uranus, with an axis tilted nearly 98 degrees.

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  1. Neptune
  2. Saturn
  3. Uranus ✔

Why: Uranus's rotation axis lies almost in its orbital plane. The planet therefore seems to roll around the Sun on its side.

Huh, didn't know that: This unusual tilt produces extreme seasons that last for years.

The dad joke
Uranus saw the other planets spin upright and chose a new angle.
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References

Answer: Uranus. Uranus's rotation axis lies almost in its orbital plane. The planet therefore seems to roll around the Sun on its side.

  1. Uranus Facts science.nasa.gov/uranus/facts
    Uranus rotates at a nearly 90-degree angle from the plane of its orbit.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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