Planet Marsknown as the fourth planet in our universe, entered last week into what scientists call ‘Mars Retrograde’.
This is a period in which the 'red planet' will appear to move backwards in its trajectory around the sun, it is also when it will look to us as the biggest and brightest star in our night sky, Forbes reports.
Mars Retrograde 2022
‘Mars Retrograde 2022’ commenced last week on October 30 and will take place until Thursday, January 12, 2023.
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This is a period in which stargazing enthusiasts and everyone else will be able to enjoy the best views of Planet Mars.
According to Forbes, The effects of ‘Mars Retrograde’ take place due to its close proximity to Earth. It happens every two years and provides an intriguing aspect of how our solar system works.
The backwards motion is all about perspective
Scientists describe the backwards motion of a planet with the term ‘retrograde’, it is merely an optical illusion.
When one looks at Mars from Earth, its normal movement is from West to East, but when it's in retrograde, the opposite appears to take place from East to West, LifestyleAsia reports.
The Earth’s orbit is closer to the Sun as compared to Mars, making its movement faster than the red planet. There comes a period when our planet is closer to completing its round of the
Sun, that is when it catches up with the red planet and eventually leaves it behind. While moving forward, it appears as if Mars is moving backwards from the Earth’s vantage point
A bonus during ‘Mars Retrograde’ is also the planet’s eclipse by the moon.An event that takes place only once every two years and this year it is scheduled for on December 8, 2022, Forbes reports.
Sources used:
-Forbes: ‘Mars Retrograde 2022: The Biggest, Brightest (And Backwards) Phase Of The Red Planet Begins Today’
-LifestyleAsia: ‘What is Mars retrograde 2022 and how will we survive it?’
