Abstract The rotation of a planet in the habitable zone (HZ) of a solar-type star may be reversed by a smooth process associated with the formation of its atmosphere and the emergence of torques stronger than and opposite to the normal tidal torques. Our understanding of Venus’ rotational dynamics is revisited to look at what might happen to exoplanets in the HZ of a solar-type star. Current theories are used to construct a simplified model of the joint contribution of the gravitational tidal torque and the atmospheric torque. It shows that the reversal of a planet’s rotation is not an exceptional fact and may have happened many times amongst the known HZ exoplanets.
S. Ferraz‐Mello (Fri,) studied this question.