What is retrograde motion of a planet?

An apparent backward drift across the sky.

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  1. A planet spinning faster
  2. A planet changing color
  3. An apparent backward drift across the sky ✔

Why: Retrograde motion is the apparent backward motion of a planet against the stars, caused by Earth and the planet moving at different speeds.

Huh, didn't know that: Retrograde motion is the apparent backward motion of a planet against the stars, caused by Earth and the planet moving at different speeds.

The dad joke
Planets sometimes take a step back to moonwalk!
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References

Answer: An apparent backward drift across the sky. Retrograde motion is the apparent backward motion of a planet against the stars, caused by Earth and the planet moving at different speeds.

  1. Scouting America: Astronomy www.scouting.org/merit-badges/astronomy
    Describe the motion of the planets across the sky.
    Checked 2026-11-07.

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