The astronomical explanation for Mercury retrograde

An astronomical explanation for Mercury's retrograde motion: the inner planet appears to retrace its steps a few times per year. Every planet does this, every year. In fact, there is a planet in retrograde for 75% of 2020
Imagery from: NASA / Hubble / Cassini / JHUAPL / SwRI / Solar System Scope processing www.solarsystemscope.com/text... under CC BY 4.0
NASA ephemeris data: ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi...

[@TravisTerrell]

A picture's worth a thousand words. Thanks!

[@jspradlin8002]

Incredible! Easy to understand with your work

[@ealvar13]

This makes the movement so easy to understand! Thanks : )

[@brenocostateixeira]

Beautiful! I had never seen this

[@of8ightandse7en16]

amazing. appreciate if you can make for longer period to see the pattern.
this encompass 7 conjunctions in a mercurial year in 345 days.

[@gauravkataria9908]

Thank you

[@andrealindy65]

Cool.

[@ShiverFoxess]

How is that "backward" I don't get it, in the the word retrograde. They just go paralell to us

[@flyingurchin]

From our vantage point it appears to be orbiting backwards.

[@isoejag8912]

Suspicious… got me thinkin too 🤔

[@Ibrohim121]

Bro I have question when sun rises from the west

[@throwawayavclubber7269]

When does it?

[@tobymurray.740]

Mercury is not a planet but the moon to Venus.

[@snailinashell]

Nope, Mercury is a planet

[@throwawayavclubber7269]

lol