Apparent retrograde motion
= Apparent retrograde motion
{wiki}
A temporary reversal in a planet's apparent direction across the background sky, arising from the observer's changing <position>. For an outer planet observed from the <Earth>, the <Earth> overtakes it along its smaller, faster <orbit>. Different apparent reversals for two planets can produce three apparent <conjunctions> around one <Sun>-centred encounter, even when both follow prograde <circular orbits>.