Retrograde motion
Retrograde motion is the apparent backward movement of a planet across the sky, as observed from Earth. This optical illusion occurs when Earth, traveling in its orbit, overtakes an outer planet like Mars, making the planet appear to reverse direction temporarily against the backdrop of stars.
Source: apod.nasa.gov
APODs including "Retrograde motion"
Retrograde Mars
13/06/2010
Why would Mars appear to move backwards? Most of the time, the apparent motion of Mars in Earth's sky is in one direction, slow but steady in front of the far distant stars. About every two years, however, the Earth passes Mars as they orbit around the Sun. During the most recent such pass late last year and early this year, Mars as usual, loomed large and bright. Also during this time, Mars appeared to move backwards in the sky, a phenomenon called retrograde motion. Pictured above is a series of images digitally stacked so that all of the stars images coincide. Here, Mars appears to trace out a loop in the sky. At the center of the loop, Earth passed Mars and the retrograde motion was the highest. Retrograde motion can also be seen for other Solar System planets.