<p>I know that planets have a "wandering" movement on the celestial sphere. I also know that their period around the Sun vary largely as compared with the period of the Earth (one sidereal year), according to Kepler's third Law. I'm also aware though that their translation planes are closely co-planar with the ecliptic. </p>

<p>Hence, there must exist a pattern of their position with respect to the fixed stars on the celestial sphere. </p>

<p>Can someone give some links, rules or charts on how to find out the celestial path of the planets on the celestial sphere over the year(s), with respect to the constellations of fixed stars?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T00:04:51.267Z
Are you really asking about their positions with respect to the constellations, or about their positions with regard to the twelve divisions of the zodiac/ecliptic? These are very different questions.
fdb
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T08:41:52.147Z
From the perspective and point of view of someone being at the Earth, it is not the same question?
João Pimentel Ferreira
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T09:12:46.397Z
No. The signs of the zodiac are 12 divisions of 30 degrees each. They take their names (Aries etc.) from constellations, but these constellations do not overlap exactly with the 12 divisions.
fdb
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T10:45:22.617Z
Ok. Thank you for the clarification. Hence, since I suppose it would be easier to calculate and predict, I'd like to know the position with respect to the 12 divisions of the zodiac.
João Pimentel Ferreira
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T17:51:59.040Z
A key thing to note is that the different periods of the planets are incommensurate - in other words there is no repeating pattern. It is though possible to predict where any planet will be in the future.
adrianmcmenamin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T18:18:55.913Z
@barrycarter, ok I see, you mean that I don't need the ecliptic latitude of the planet since I'm just interested in the twelve divisions of 30 degrees each for the longitude of the ecliptic, is that?
João Pimentel Ferreira
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T18:20:46.677Z
@adrianmcmenamin, take Mars as an example, there is no simple formula to find the ecliptic longitude of Mars with regards to a reference time point?
João Pimentel Ferreira
<planet><celestial-mechanics>
The path of the planets on the celestial sphere
João Pimentel Ferreira
# The path of the planets on the celestial sphere

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-16)

I know that planets have a "wandering" movement on the celestial sphere. I also know that their period around the Sun vary largely as compared with the period of the Earth (one sidereal year), according to Kepler's third Law. I'm also aware though that their translation planes are closely co-planar with the ecliptic.

Hence, there must exist a pattern of their position with respect to the fixed stars on the celestial sphere.

Can someone give some links, rules or charts on how to find out the celestial path of the planets on the celestial sphere over the year(s), with respect to the constellations of fixed stars?

**Tags:** planet, celestial-mechanics
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you really asking about their positions with respect to the constellations, or about their positions with regard to the twelve divisions of the zodiac/ecliptic? These are very different questions.  
> **username_0**: From the perspective and point of view of someone being at the Earth, it is not the same question?  
> **username_1**: No. The signs of the zodiac are 12 divisions of 30 degrees each. They take their names (Aries etc.) from constellations, but these constellations do not overlap exactly with the 12 divisions.  
> **username_0**: Ok. Thank you for the clarification. Hence, since I suppose it would be easier to calculate and predict, I'd like to know the position with respect to the 12 divisions of the zodiac.  
> **username_2**: A key thing to note is that the different periods of the planets are incommensurate - in other words there is no repeating pattern. It is though possible to predict where any planet will be in the future.  
> **username_0**: @barrycarter, ok I see, you mean that I don't need the ecliptic latitude of the planet since I'm just interested in the twelve divisions of 30 degrees each for the longitude of the ecliptic, is that?  
> **username_0**: @adrianmcmenamin, take Mars as an example, there is no simple formula to find the ecliptic longitude of Mars with regards to a reference time point?  

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