Uranus is in retrograde motion now, starting from 30th Aug
2023. All planets move from west to east with reference to stars, this is the direct
motion. Months before reaching the opposition, we notice the daily angular motion
of the outer planet, in this case, Uranus keeps reducing and at a point it appears
stationary. The planet’s motion will be eastward until the stationary point.
Months after Opposition, the opposition of Uranus will take
place on 13th November 2023, again we observe the angular motion reducing
and becoming stationary at one point, this will be Jan 28th 2024, and the planet
will start moving eastward again with slowly increasing in angular motion as
days passes.
Uranus will move 4 degrees west in the retrograde motion before
turning east again.
Using binocular or telescope you can track the movement and
measure the changes. Even with necked eye it is possible but interval of each
observation should be far enough (in days) to notice the changes.
If you pick delta and rho Arietis, you can notice the movement
of Uranus from delta to rho…
Happy Observing
