The term used to descibe this backwards motion is 'retrograde', as opposed to the normal motion
described as 'direct'. The point at which the motion changes from direct to retrograde, or back again, is when a planet is
said to be 'stationary'.
In the diagram the direct motion to the east is shown at positions 1,2 and 3, backward motion to
the west at 4 and 5, and direct motion to the east again at 6 and 7.
During 2007:
Mars begins the year at 1.4 magnitude, moving from Ophiuchus into Sagittarius
during January with a direct easterly motion. In February it moves into Capricorn, Aquarius in April, Pisces in May, Aries
then Taurus during July, Gemini in October from where it becomes stationary on November 15th and then progresses in a retrograde
westerly motion through opposition on the 24th December. Mars is visible throughout 2007 becoming progressively brighter during
the year to reach –1.7 magnitude by December.
Jupiter is in Ophiuchus throughout 2007. It begins the year at –1.8 magnitude with a
direct motion and reaches –2.6 magnitude in May and June. On April 6th Jupiter is stationary and then moves westerly in a
retrograde motion, through opposition on June 5th, before becoming stationary again on August 7th and returning to an easterly
direct motion. Jupiter is visible throughout the year until December when it is in conjunction with the Sun.
Saturn is in Leo throughout 2007. It begins the year with a retrograde motion, through
opposition on 10th February, becoming stationary on 20th April and into direct motion through conjunction on 21st August, and
stationary again on 20th December and into retrograde motion. Saturn is visible year-round except during August and conjunction
with the Sun. The planet begins the year at 0.0 magnitude, fading to 0.5 before conjunction and 0.8 following conjunction.
Uranus was in Aquarius throughout 2006 and will remain there during 2007. The planet
commences the year in direct motion, is stationary on 23rd June then follows a retrograde motion through opposition on 9th
September, is stationary again on 24th November and afterwards resumes a direct motion.
Neptune, spending another complete year in Capricorn, begins 2007 with a direct motion,
is stationary on the 25th May, retrograde through opposition on the 13th August until stationary again on the 31st October and
resuming direct motion.
During 2006:
Mars begins the year at –0.6 magnitude, the brightest it will appear during
2006, with a direct easterly motion in Aries, moving into Taurus in February, Gemini in April, Cancer in May and Leo in
July. From August until November, through conjunction on the 23rd October, Mars will be too close to the Sun to be
observable. The planet becomes visible again in December during morning twilight, and moving from Libra to Scorpio.
Jupiter is in Libra throughout 2006 until moving through Scorpio into Ophiuchus
during December. It begins the year at –1.9 magnitude, brightening to –2.5 magnitude during April and May, and fading again
to –1.7 by the end of 2006. The planet follows a direct easterly motion until stationary on March 5th, then is retrograde
moving westwards against the stars through opposition on the 4th May. Jupiter becomes stationary again on July 5th after
which it moves again into direct easterly motion.
Saturn is in Cancer until August when it is in conjunction with the Sun on the 7th
and moves into Leo until the end of the year. The planet begins 2006 following a retrograde path until stationary on April
5th after which it follows a direct easterly motion. Saturn becomes stationary again on December 6th, then resumes a
retrograde path into 2007. With –0.1 magnitude, it is at its brightest for the year during January and February and fades
to 0.5 from August to November, brightening slightly again to 0.3 in December.
Uranus remains again in Aquarius all year, commencing 2006 with a direct motion
until stationary on 19th June becoming retrograde through opposition on 5th September until stationary again on 20th
November and recommencing direct motion. During February and March, through conjunction on 1st March, the planet is too
close to the Sun for observation.
Neptune, spending another year in Capricorn, begins 2006 with a direct motion,
is stationary on the 22nd May, retrograde through opposition on the 11th August until stationary again on the 29th October
and resuming direct motion. During February, with conjunction on the 6th, the planet is not observable.
Venus and Mercury, as inner planets, move very quickly against the constellations.
They have no stationary or retrograde motion and are always seen moving easterly against the stars.
As seen from Earth, the motion of all planets is eastwards taken over the whole year. As Earth is also
moving, and more quickly than the outer planets, it overtakes them around the time of opposition. At this time the outer
planets appear to move backwards against the stars.
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