<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/307857" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Backer and Sramek 1999</a>
observed that relative to more distant radio sources, the galactic center
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sgr A*</a>
had a heliocentric <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proper_motion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">proper motion</a>
of about -6 milliarcseconds per year in galactic longitude.
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/307855" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Reid et al. 1999</a>
reported a similar result.
Looking from NGP to SGP,
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_coordinate_system" rel="nofollow noreferrer">galactic longitude</a>
increases counterclockwise, a decrease in longitude is a clockwise motion, and the Sun revolves clockwise around the galactic center.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T18:50:25.567Z
2018-04-18T19:13:28.603Z
2018-04-18T19:13:28.603Z
Mike G
<p>When viewed from above, i.e., looking down from the North Galactic Pole towards the South Galactic Pole, does the sun rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the Galactic center? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T18:53:30.293Z
Related: [In which direction does the Milky Way rotate?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/21450/in-which-direction-does-the-milky-way-rotate)
Mike G
<milky-way><coordinate>
Direction of movement sun with respect to the NGP
user22761
# Direction of movement sun with respect to the NGP

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-18)

When viewed from above, i.e., looking down from the North Galactic Pole towards the South Galactic Pole, does the sun rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the Galactic center?

**Tags:** milky-way, coordinate
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related: [In which direction does the Milky Way rotate?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/21450/in-which-direction-does-the-milky-way-rotate)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

[Backer and Sramek 1999](https://doi.org/10.1086/307857)
observed that relative to more distant radio sources, the galactic center
[Sgr A\*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*)
had a heliocentric [proper motion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proper_motion)
of about -6 milliarcseconds per year in galactic longitude.
[Reid et al. 1999](https://doi.org/10.1086/307855)
reported a similar result.
Looking from NGP to SGP,
[galactic longitude](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_coordinate_system)
increases counterclockwise, a decrease in longitude is a clockwise motion, and the Sun revolves clockwise around the galactic center.


---

