Relative speeds

The perspective which accounts for why the outer planets fall temporarily behind in view is based on relative speeds between our planet and the slower moving planets at a greater distance from the Sun -

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0112/JuSa2000_tezel.gif


The original empirical conception of absolute/relative motion loses this crucial perspective by appealing to an absolute/relative space -

"For to the earth planetary motions appear sometimes direct, sometimes
stationary, nay, and sometimes retrograde. But from the sun they are
always seen direct,..." Newton

This is not only a disruptive notion, the followers of Newton themselves never knew much less cared why it undermines the whole basis of heliocentricity, at least where the outer planets are concerned.

The new platform uses 21st century imaging to restore the original perspective and add new ones at the same time. For instance, seen from a moving Earth, the outer planets are brightest at the center of retrogrades -

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1006...tated_big..jpg

The inner planets,using an entirely different perspective of relative speeds, are darkest as they overtake the Earth when seen -

http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/...it-580x490.jpg


It takes people of confidence and courage to emerge from the shadows of the voodoo merchants of the last century and face the original notions of the people in the late 17th century . It is not a case of throwing good information after bad but getting astronomy back to where it should be with all these new tools around.