What causes the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?
A)As Earth passes another planet, the other planet appears to move backward with respect to the background stars, but the planet's motion does not really change.
B)Apparent retrograde motion is an illusion created by turbulence in Earth's atmosphere.
C)As Earth passes another planet, its gravitational pull slows down the other planet so that it appears to be traveling backward.
D)The other planets never really appear to move backward; the background stars shift due to Earth's revolution around the Sun.
E)When planets are farther from the Sun, they move slower than when they are nearer the Sun; it is during this slower period that they appear to move backwards.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As Earth and another planet orbit the Sun, there are times when Earth passes the other planet in its orbit. From Earth's perspective, the other planet appears to move backward with respect to the background stars during this time of passing, creating the illusion of retrograde motion. However, the planet's actual motion does not change.

What Causes the Apparent Retrograde Motion of the Planets