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2007-07-23 13:37:49 · 3 answers · asked by icbobby 1 in Science & Mathematics Astronomy & Space

3 answers

This website explains it with graphics that illustrate the point better than any explanation I could provide.

http://www.lasalle.edu/~smithsc/Astronomy/retrograd.html

2007-07-23 13:53:13 · answer #1 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 2 0

Its all about our perspective when viewing the planets.
As we go around the sun, we move faster in our orbit than the planets further out from the sun.
So if we start out with the Earth directly in line with the other planet, we move ahead of that planet. As we go around the sun the planet seems to fall "behind" us, and as we go around the other side of the sun that planet is still plodding along and we catch up to it.

Sort of like cars on a racetrack. The faster car will pull ahead and then catch up to the slower car and then pass it again.

2007-07-23 14:07:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

It's all about how we move in regards the object moves in regard to it's background. Similar to when you see a low flying airplane seem to stop moving when ur headed in the direction the plane is coming from

2007-07-23 16:07:06 · answer #3 · answered by nate q 3 · 0 0

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