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Chapter 4: Problem 10

Which planets can never be seen at opposition? Which planets can never be seen at inferior conjunction? Explain your answers.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Based on the principles of astronomy, the planets Mercury and Venus (inner planets) can never be seen at opposition since they are located inside the Earth's orbit, while the planets Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (outer planets) can never be seen at inferior conjunction because they are situated outside the Earth's orbit.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Planetary Positions

Firstly, it's important to understand that our solar system consists of eight planets revolving around the Sun, with the Earth included. The planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - are located between the Sun and the Earth, or farther than Earth from the Sun. Inner planets are those that orbit the Sun inside the Earth's orbit (Mercury and Venus), and outer planets are those that orbit the Sun outside the Earth's orbit (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune).
02

Determining Planets Seen at Opposition

A planet is said to be at opposition when the Earth is located directly between that planet and the Sun. To be in this position, a planet must be outside the Earth's orbit. Thus, all outer planets (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) can be seen at opposition. On the contrary, inner planets that lie within the Earth's orbit (Mercury and Venus) will never be seen at opposition because they can't get behind the Earth relative to the Sun.
03

Determining Planets Seen at Inferior Conjunction

A planet is at inferior conjunction when it is located precisely between the Earth and the Sun. Thus, for a planet to be seen at inferior conjunction, it must reside within the Earth's orbit. So, only the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, can be seen at inferior conjunction. Conversely, outer planets that lie outside the Earth's orbit (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) will never be seen at inferior conjunction because they can't pass between the Earth and the Sun.

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