Astrological Atlas · Apparent movement
Retrogradation
No planet ever really turns back. Retrogradation is an optical illusion: due to different orbital speeds, from Earth some planets seem, for certain periods, to move backward against the background of the zodiac.
● Mercury
● Mars
● Jupiter
Observe
Apparent retrograde motion
Seen from Earth, outer planets (Mars, Jupiter) appear to slow, reverse, then resume when Earth overtakes them on its faster inner orbit. Inner planets like Mercury retrograde when they overtake Earth.
Select a planet to highlight its line of sight. Press Play and watch the trail draw itself — direct motion in one colour, retrograde in the other.
Speed:
Hora: 0.0 years
Mercury:
—
Mars:
—
Jupiter:
—
Dom: —
direct motion
retrograde motion (R)