Mars to move Backward

Since January 1, Mars has progressed more than halfway around our sky and now is on an easterly course through the background stars of the Zodiac. Mars currently reside smack in the middle of the constellation of Gemini. For the past few weeks Mars has appeared to slow in its eastward trajectory as seen from Earth. On November 15th it will pause and come to a halt. Then for the next 11 weejs it will reverse its course and move backwards toward the West. On January 30, 2008 it will pause again, before resuming its normal eastward direction.