Apparent retrograde motion occurs when a planet appears to
A) be stationary with respect to background stars
B) move eastward with respect to background stars
C) move due north with respect to background stars
D) move westward with respect to background stars

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Apparent retrograde motion occurs when a planet appears to move westward with respect to background stars. This occurs when the Earth overtakes and passes the slower-moving outer planet in its own orbit around the Sun, making it appear as though the planet is moving backwards in the sky.

Apparent Retrograde Motion Occurs When a Planet Appears to