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Chapter 3: Problem 11

At what configuration (for example, superior conjunction, greatest eastern elongation, and so on) would it be best to observe Mercury or Venus with an Earth-based telescope? At what configuration would it be best to observe Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn? Explain your answers

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: For observing Mercury and Venus, the best configuration is during their greatest eastern or western elongation. For Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the best configuration is during their opposition.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Astronomical Configurations

Astronomical configurations are relative positions of celestial bodies. Important configurations include: superior conjunction (when the sun is directly between Earth and another planet), inferior conjunction (when a planet is directly between Earth and the Sun), greatest eastern elongation (when a planet appears furthest to the east of the Sun), and greatest western elongation (when a planet appears furthest to the west of the Sun).
02

Observing Inner Planets (Mercury and Venus)

Mercury and Venus are known as inner planets because they orbit closer to the Sun than Earth does. When observing inner planets, we usually look for them during their greatest elongation (eastern or western) since this is when they appear furthest from the Sun and are most visible from Earth. During greatest elongations, they appear brighter and larger in telescopes due to the angle of sunlight that reflects off their surfaces. So, the best configuration to observe Mercury and Venus with an Earth-based telescope is during their greatest eastern or western elongation.
03

Observing Outer Planets (Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn)

Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are known as outer planets because they orbit farther from the Sun than Earth does. When observing outer planets, the best time to do so is when they are in opposition. Opposition occurs when the Earth is directly between a planet and the Sun, causing the planet to appear brighter and larger in the sky. This is because the planet is relatively close to Earth and fully illuminated by sunlight during opposition. Thus, the best configuration to observe Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn with an Earth-based telescope is when they are at opposition.
04

Conclusion

In conclusion, for observing Mercury and Venus, the best configuration is during their greatest eastern or western elongation, whereas for Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the best configuration is during their opposition.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The mass of the Moon is \(7.35 \times 10^{22} \mathrm{kg}\), while that of Earth is \(5.98 \times 10^{24} \mathrm{kg} .\) The average distance from the center of the Moon to the center of Earth is \(384,400 \mathrm{km} .\) What is the size of the gravitational force that Earth exerts on the Moon?

When the Voyager 2 spacecraft sent back pictures of Neptune during its flyby of that planet in 1989 , the spacecraft's radio signals traveled for 4 hours at the speed of light to reach Earth. How far away was the spacecraft? Give your answer in kilometers, using powers-of-ten notation. (Hint: See the preceding question.)

How did the ancient Greeks explain why the Sun and the Moon slowly change their positions relative to the background stars?

In what direction does a planet move relative to the stars when it is in direct motion? When it is in retrograde motion? How do these compare with the direction in which we see the Sun move relative to the stars?

Write the following numbers using powers-of-ten notation: (a) ten million, (b) sixty thousand, (c) four one-thousandths, (d) thirty-eight billion, (e) your age in months.
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