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Retrograde motion in astronomy is, in general, orbital or rotational motion of an object in the direction opposite the rotation of its primary, that is, the central object (right figure). It may also describe other motions such as precession or nutation of an object's rotational axis .
The retrograde motion of a hypothetical extremely distant (and nearly non-moving) planet would take place during a half-year, with the planet's apparent yearly motion being reduced to a parallax ellipse. The center of the retrograde motion occurs at the planet's opposition which is when the planet is exactly opposite the Sun.
The Sun-centered positions displayed a cyclical motion with respect to time but without retrograde loops in the case of the outer planets. [dubious – discuss] In principle, the heliocentric motion was simpler but with new subtleties due to the yet-to-be-discovered elliptical shape of the orbits. Another complication was caused by a problem ...
This is called "apparent direct" motion. A satellite in a direct orbit with an orbital period greater than one day will tend to move from east to west along its ground track, in what is called "apparent retrograde" motion. This effect occurs because the satellite orbits more slowly than the speed at which the Earth rotates beneath it.
Apparent retrograde motion is the periodic, apparently backwards motion of planetary bodies when viewed from the Earth (an accelerated reference frame). Satellite is an object that orbits another object (known as its primary). The term is often used to describe an artificial satellite (as opposed to natural satellites, or moons).
Retrograde motion is an apparent change in the movement of a planet in the sky, but that doesn’t mean the planet is physically moving backward in its orbit. Retrogrades are visual illusions that ...
Here are the dates for Mercury retrograde, Venus retrograde, Saturn retrograde, Neptune retrograde, Pluto retrograde and more. ... When Neptune, planet of illusion, is in direct motion, we can be ...
Retrograde motion of Mars as viewed from the Earth. Figure 3: Planets revolving the Sun follow elliptical (oval) orbits that rotate gradually over time (apsidal precession). The eccentricity of this ellipse is exaggerated for visualization. Most orbits in the Solar System have a much smaller eccentricity, making them nearly circular.