Thejaswini...Knowledge Contributor
What is the name of the phenomenon where a planet appears to move backward in the sky?
What is the name of the phenomenon where a planet appears to move backward in the sky?
Retrograde motion happens when a planet appears to reverse its direction against the background stars. This optical illusion occurs because Earth, which orbits the Sun faster, overtakes the slower-moving outer planet or vice versa, creating the appearance of backward motion.