Retrograde Motion and the Opposition of Mars

Superior planets (planets that are further from the Sun than Earth) can undergo retrograde motion when they are near opposition (the point in the sky that is opposite the Sun). Mars in particular has an opposition about every two years and so makes a retrograde loop every two years as well. Mars will next be at opposition at the end of January, 2010.

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  Science & Technology

[astrogirlwest]

Retrograde motion has nothing to do with where the Sun rises or the direction it moves over the course of a day. Retrograde motion as I discuss it here only refers to the direction a planet moves over a period of day/weeks *with respect to the stars*. The daily motion of the planet is still from East to West.

[Mohamed El.hattab]

The Movement of a planet in it's orbit doesn't affect the position where the sun rising..!!

It's depends only on the rotation of the planet about it self..!!

[astrogirlwest]

This video has nothing to do with where the Sun rises.

[Polaris431]

Near the end, when Mars does its retrograde, the stars should be moving and be in a different position..

[astrogirlwest]

The stars are so much further away than objects in our solar system that they appear to be a nearly completely stationary background. Some stars do show very small motions in the sky due to parallax and/or proper motion, but these motions are too small to be observed with the eye alone. You need a telescope that can make very sensitive measurements.

[Gserie]

very very clear!

Thanks!

[Maru Laari]

thank you for uploading, very clear !

[altilana]

Thank you so much, I could not understand this in my textbook at all!

[Tom Forge]

I finally understand! Thank you!

[PokMeJutawe]

it was the sign of the creator! whether new or old, up to u to believe or not

[peoplelikingpeople]

thanks for posting

[XxBL4kC47Xx]

thanks for the easy explanation

[Grégoire Thorez]

les devoirs de physiques le week end...

[Leechburg Lights]

Why is this outdated? This does not explain the general idea of retrograde motion?

[Christopher Landry]

The information in this video is very old and outdated. I would not recommend using it as a source for research.

[Jp Buteau]

yeah thats true xd