Superior
vs. Inferior Planets
•Superior planets (Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) have
orbits larger than the earth and can appear opposite the sun in the
sky. They can be up at midnight. Never show phases.
•Inferior planets (Mercury,
Venus) have orbits smaller than earth and can
never appear far from the Sun. They
form “morning stars” or “evening stars” visible a
little before sunrise or after sunset. Show
phases.
From our text: Horizons, by Seeds