Which is better: retrograde motion or prograde motion...?

Answer 1

Slightly odd question, since better implies a value judgment.

I'd say retrograde motion is better, because it confused people for so long, and explaining it led to the heliocentric (sun centered) view of the solar system.

Planets mostly move in a consistent direction in the night sky from day to day, week to week, and month to month as time passes. However, every so often a planet seems to be going backwards for a while. With the original Earth-centered view of the universe, this was very hard to explain. Complex theoretical systems of cycles with epicycles added on were used in attempts to explain them, but they were complex and didn't make much sense.

I think it was Copernicus who finally came up with the idea that all of the planets (including the Earth) are actually circling the sun, and retrograde motion happens when the Earth, in it's closer & tighter solar orbit, passes the slower moving outer planets by.

Answer 2

Retrograde usually has bad effects, and stalls things at the very least, so I'd say prograde (although I have never heard that term) is better.

I'm speaking in astrological terms, just to clarify. Retrograde motion of planets is not often a good thing in astrological terms.

Answer 3

Depends on the situation. If you see a runaway truck hurtling directly towards you, then retrograde motion would be best. If you look in your rearview mirror and see a runaway truck coming up behind you then prograde motion is best.

Answer 4

Prograde is the superior form of motion.

Answer 5

Launching a satellite, entering a transfer orbit, and suchlike rocketry doings, are usually much cheaper with prograde motion.

Answer 6

"Better"??!!

Retrograde motion is really something of an illusion, caused by the motion of the Earth around the Sun. Does that make it "worse"?