Suppose two planets outside of Earth's orbit both show retrograde motion.Planet A's retrograde loop fills a larger angle on the sky than Planet B's does.How are Planet A and B related to each other?
A) Planet A is closer to Earth than Planet B.
B) Planet A is farther from Earth than Planet B.
C) Planet A moves slower in its orbit than Planet B.
D) Planet A has a larger epicycle than Planet B.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Planet A's larger retrograde loop suggests it is closer to Earth, as objects closer to the observer will appear to move more across the sky than those farther away, assuming similar actual speeds.

Suppose Two Planets Outside of Earth's Orbit Both Show Retrograde