The Solar System: Observing the Planets

Abstract

The visibility of the planets change throughout their orbit and depends on a number of factors, including their position in their orbit in relation to the Sun and the Earth, as well as its location along the ecliptic. The planets come in two main types, the Inner (inferior) Planets, those that orbit closer to the Sun than the Earth-Mercury and Venus, and the Outer (superior) Planets. Those are the ones that orbit further from the Sun than the Earth: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune. The visibility of the planets as they move through their orbit is determined by their position in relation to the Earth. Although all the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction, their visibility and availability for observing is dictated by their position in the solar system. Due to them orbiting closer to the Sun than the Earth, the inner planets apparitions are totally different to that of the outer planets. 9.1 Mercury & Venus: The Inner Planets Mercury and Venus have orbits inside that of the Earth meaning that they orbit closer to the Sun. This has a major effect on how easily (or not) we can view them from Earth.