October 28, 2014
The atoms in your body have known many forms: star core, drifting dust, ocean mineral, living cell.
Retrograde Mars
Birthday · October 28, 2014
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APOD published October 28, 2014. Credit: Tunç Tezel. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Why would Mars appear to move backwards? Most of the time, the apparent motion of Mars in Earth's sky is in one direction, slow but steady in front of the far distant stars. About every two years, however, the Earth passes Mars as they orbit around the Sun. During the most recent such pass starting late last year, Mars as usual, loomed large and bright. Also during this time, Mars appeared to move backwards in the sky, a phenomenon called retrograde motion. Featured here is a series of images digitally stacked so that all of the stars coincide. Here, Mars appears to trace out a narrow loop in the sky. At the center of the loop, Earth passed Mars and the retrograde motion was the highest. Retrograde motion can also be seen for other Solar System planets. APOD Wall Calendar: Moons and Planets
Image credit: Tunç Tezel