tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post7060456330839324442..comments2024-03-20T03:33:22.357-07:00Comments on Skeptophilia: A planetary pirouetteGordon Bonnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06003472005971594466noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-62957195137206489342014-02-07T13:38:06.584-08:002014-02-07T13:38:06.584-08:00Retrograde can seem complicated if you don't h...Retrograde can seem complicated if you don't have a simple means of explaining it. I like to tell people to imagine passing a slow truck on the freeway.<br />At first, the truck seems to be moving slowly forward (with respect to the background or horizon) but then, briefly, as you overtake the truck, it will appear to be moving backwards. Once you've passed it will appear to be moving slowly forward again. <br />The faster planet retrogrades are even easier to explain/visualize.<br />But all this communication is useless and unreliable right now anyway because of Mercury so what's the point?<br />Wait.<br />Why in the F#%K would you want to talk to an ex-lover at the very time "normal communication" has become "unreliable"?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com