Another Dance with the Planets

For an Inferior Planet, its synodic period is

• The time to return to the same position relative to the stars

• The time between superior conjunctions

• The time between eastern and western elongation

• The amount of time it rises earlier each day

Inferior planets are at its closest to earth during opposition.

• True

• False

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

'When Venus is at its maximum elongation, it:

• is at its furthest point away from the sun.'

• appears to be at a standstill relative to the sun.'

• starts to enter retrograde motion.'

• reaches its highest position in the night sky.'

When Venus is the morning star, it has just come around from the far side of its orbit around the sun, and will eventually cross in front of the sun to become the evening star.

• True

• False

The elongation angle of a planet is

• The angle between the earth and the planet as measured from the sun

• The angle between the sun and the planet as measured from earth

• The angle between the sun and earth as measured from the planet

• None of the above

When an inferior planet approaches its crescent phase, its apparent diameter:

• Increases

• Decreases

• Stays constant

• Approaches infinity

When a superior planet is in retrograde, the amount of time it rises earlier each day:

• is more than 4 mins per day

• is less than 4 mins per day

• No, it rises later each day instead

• None of the above

Superior planets always rise earlier each day, while for inferior planets it may rise earlier or later each day depending on where it is in its orbit.

• True

• False

The time it takes for a planet to return to the exact same position on the ecliptic (as seen from earth) is:

• Equal to its synodic period

• Equal to its sidereal period

• Equal to one earth year

• It's complicated

If I want to know what time a planet rises and where in the sky it will be, I should:

• Break out the calculator and do some quick math

• Consult the Oracle of Delphi

• Break down and cry

• Check Stellarium