Retrograde planets and objects

[Tomato3017]

Hello,

I'm still learning rudimentary orbital mechanics so I apologize if I misinterpreted something. My question is that why is it that we have no retrograde orbiting planets in our solar system? I'm guessing this is because of the rotation of the planetary nebula when the planets were formed, hence all the planets orbit the same as the nebula did.

My other question is that is it possible to orbit such a theoretical planet?(not just flybys and assuming current technology and max planet size of Jupiter). If I am correct in what I have learned so far, then the Theory of Relativity would make it so we have the similar orbital energy as the planet we left making it very very hard to create a retrograde orbit for easy insertion.

Thanks

 

[TSPenguin]

Your assumption about the forming of the planets is correct.

Orbiting a retrograde planet would be as easy as orbiting any other. Getting there would be interesting.
I wonder if the retrograde orbit would be better suited for slingshot breaking.

 

[tblaxland]

I'm still learning rudimentary orbital mechanics so I apologize if I misinterpreted something. My question is that why is it that we have no retrograde orbiting planets in our solar system? I'm guessing this is because of the rotation of the planetary nebula when the planets were formed, hence all the planets orbit the same as the nebula did.

That is my understanding also. There are some retrograde moons, mostly thought to be captured moons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrograde_motion#Examples. Theoretically it would be possible for an interstellar object to captured into a retrograde planetary orbit.

My other question is that is it possible to orbit such a theoretical planet?(not just flybys and assuming current technology and max planet size of Jupiter). If I am correct in what I have learned so far, then the Theory of Relativity would make it so we have the similar orbital energy as the planet we left making it very very hard to create a retrograde orbit for easy insertion.

It is possible. Doing a direct flight would require a huge amount of delta-v because you need to stop then reverse the direction of you orbital motion around the sun - enough to make it impractical. I wonder if it would be possible to use multiple flybys to achieve it, say one at Jupiter to get into a high inclination solar orbit (like Ulysses) and then multiple ones past the target planet to bring the orbit into a retrograde direction.