Question

Is it at all possible with current CSS3 to translate an object (specifically a DIV) along an arc or curve? Here’s an image to help illustrate.

Answer 1

You can use nested elements and make the wrapper and inner element rotate in opposite directions so that the rotation of the inner element compensates for the rotation of the wrapper.

If you don’t need to keep the nested element horizontal, you can omit the inner rotation.

Here is a Dabblet. Stack Snippet:

/* Arc movement */

.wrapper {
	width: 500px;
	margin: 300px 0 0;
	transition: all 1s;
	transform-origin: 50% 50%;
}
.inner {
	display: inline-block;
	padding: 1em;
	transition: transform 1s;
	background: lime;
}
html:hover .wrapper {
	transform: rotate(180deg);
}
html:hover .inner {
	transform: rotate(-180deg);
}

<div class="wrapper">
    <div class="inner">Hover me</div>
</div>

Also, Lea Verou wrote an article on this issue with a way that use only one element: http://lea.verou.me/2012/02/moving-an-element-along-a-circle/