Jeddah Astronomical Society reports that the planet Jupiter has ended its retrograde motion and resumed its eastward trajectory across the night sky as of Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
According to Majid Abu Zahira, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Jupiter will now appear to move eastward among the stars after months of appearing to move westward. This apparent reversal is a common phenomenon known as retrograde motion, and it isn’t a true change in the planet’s direction.
The illusion occurs due to the differing orbital speeds of the planets around the Sun. Earth orbits the Sun faster than Jupiter, and as Earth overtakes Jupiter in its orbit, it creates the visual effect of Jupiter moving backward from our perspective. This celestial dance highlights the complex interplay of orbital mechanics within our solar system.
Abu Zahira explained that Jupiter’s retrograde motion began on November 11, 2025, and continued until today. The period saw the planet appearing to move west relative to the stars.
The Jeddah Astronomical Society also noted that Jupiter reached a point of opposition on January 10, 2026. The retrograde motion will officially end on March 11, 2026, with the planet resuming its normal eastward course. More details are available from Sports-Leb.
Understanding Jupiter’s retrograde motion provides a scientific window into the physics of the solar system, confirming the accuracy of orbital calculations made by astronomers. The phenomenon serves as a reminder of the relative nature of motion when observed from different points in space.
Separately, the Jeddah Astronomical Society announced that the Ramadan moon will be in conjunction with Jupiter on Friday, February 27, 2026, a phenomenon visible to the naked eye. Al-Madina News has more on this event.
The Jeddah Astronomical Society’s full announcement is available here.
