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The terms "inferior planet" and "superior planet" were originally used in the geocentric cosmology of Claudius Ptolemy to differentiate those planets (Mercury and Venus) having an epicycle that remained collinear with the Earth and Sun, compared to the planets (Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that did not.
In the 16th century, the terms were modified by Copernicus, who rejected Ptolemy's geocentric model, to distinguish a planet's orbit's size in relation to the Earth's.
- "Inferior planet" is used in reference to Mercury and Venus, which are closer to the Sun than the Earth is.
- "Superior planet" is used in reference to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and all the known minor and dwarf planets, including Ceres and Pluto, which are farther from the Sun than the Earth is.
The terms are sometimes used more generally: for instance, the Earth is an inferior planet as seen from Mars.
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What is the classification of Venus?
Planets that are located inside the orbit of Earth are classified as inferior planets, and these include Venus and Mercury. After the Moon, Venus is the brightest object in the night sky.
What planets are called inferior planets?
Mercury and Venus, because their orbits are closer to the Sun than Earth' orbit is.
What planets are considered high density planets?
Mercury Venus Earth Mars.
What planets are the rocky planets?
The rocky planets are(in order)... Mercury, Venus and of course, Mars
Do inferior planets orbit the sun clockwise?
NO. They orbit counterclockwise (anticlockwise) when viewed from above the Earth's north pole, which is the usual convention. (Mercury and Venus are called the "inferior planets" because their orbits are between the Sun and the Earth.)
What planets can never be seen at opposition?
Venus and Mercury because they are inferior planets.
Name the two plants with NO moon?
Mercury and Venus, the inferior planets.
What is the classification of Venus?
Planets that are located inside the orbit of Earth are classified as inferior planets, and these include Venus and Mercury. After the Moon, Venus is the brightest object in the night sky.
What planets are called inferior planets?
Mercury and Venus, because their orbits are closer to the Sun than Earth' orbit is.
How many inferior planets are there?
There are two. They are Mercury and Venus. (An inferior planet is simply one that is closer to the Sun than Earth is.)
What planets are considered high density planets?
Mercury Venus Earth Mars.
Why are the mercury venus earth and mars are considered as first four planets?
These are the first four planets from the sun, Mercury is the closest, followed by Venus, Earth and Mars.
What planet are considered to be inner planets?
Mercury, venus, earth, and mars.
Position of inferior plant between earth and sun?
There are two inferior planets. One is venus-or sister planet-and the other in mercury. These two are inferior planets because their orbit is inside of the earths orbit. best time to see these planets is when they are their furthest from the sun. :)
Which planet can transit the sun?
From our point of view, it can be only Mercury or Venus, because only orbits of those planets fit entirely between ours and the Sun. But anything and any planet orbiting the sun can pass in front of the sun depending on the location of the observer.
Which planet are considered the inner planets?
In our solar system the inner planets are the first four rocky worlds, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The rest of the planets are gas giants. Pluto/Charon, part of the Kuiper Belt, is part of a cometary halo.
Why are Mercury and Venus different from the other planets in the Solar System?
They have no moons. They are also the two planets with the hottest surface temperatures (Venus slightly hotter). In their orbits, the two are the only planets "inferior" to Earth (closer to the Sun).
