Mars-Jupiter Simultaneous Retrogrades
1 October 1646 - 8 June 1647
Enlarged View  (44° x 24°)
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Red represents part of the retrograde path of Mars and yellow that of Jupiter; the green line is the ecliptic. The path of Jupiter's retrograde may be hard to decipher. For greater clarity, see "Jupiter's Retrograde Path 1 October 1646 - 8 June 1647 Close-up View (9° x 5°)". The tracing of the course of Mars and Jupiter begins on 1/10/1646. On 11/24/1646, Jupiter reverses course and proceeds in the opposite direction until 3/23/1647, when it again changes direction back to its original course. Unlike Mars, Jupiter backtracks hardly deviating from its previous course, which makes its return prograde path hard to differentiate from its retrograde course. Mars passes by Jupiter and reaches its pivot spot on 12/17/1646, and begins its retrograde. On 3/3/1647, Mars reaches its pivot point behind the path of Jupiter and initiates its prograde course. Just 20 days after, Jupiter turns around and appears to flee from Mars. Mars chases after him, and 10 days later, on 4/2/1647, Mars finally catches up to Jupiter.