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Chapter 11: Problem 1

Why is it impossible to see Mercury or Venus in the sky at midnight?

Short Answer

Expert verified
It is impossible to see Mercury and Venus in the sky at midnight due to their relative positions to Earth and the Sun. Because these planets orbit closer to the Sun than Earth, they are generally seen in the same direction as the Sun. At midnight, the Sun is on the opposite side of Earth and below the horizon; thus, making Mercury and Venus unobservable from Earth.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Orbit Positions

Firstly, recognize that Mercury and Venus are the two planets inside the Earth's orbit, closer to the Sun. This positioning causes them to always appear relatively close to the Sun from our vantage point here on Earth.
02

Consider Earth's Rotation

The Earth rotates on its axis about every 24 hours, causing the Sun to rise in the east and set in the west. The same effect is seen with the inner planets, Mercury and Venus. They rise and set in correlation with the Sun.
03

Think about Midnight Position

At midnight, the Earth has rotated to a position where the Sun is on the exact opposite side of the Earth. Consequently, any planets appearing close to the Sun in the sky would also be obscured from view.
04

Line of Sight to Mercury and Venus

Given our line of sight from Earth at midnight, the Sun is below the horizon (on the other side of the Earth) and therefore any planets, specifically Mercury and Venus in this case, that are near the Sun would also be below the horizon and thus not visible.

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