Astronomy

1. Opposition is when a planet is in the opposite direction asthe Sun from Earth. How can we use observations of greatestelongation and opposition to determine if a planet is inferior orsuperior?

2. Imagine building a model solar system by placing balls ofvarious sizes on a table to represent planets. Is there anydirection from which you could look at this model and always seethe same relation between planet location that you described above?Explain?

3. Planets orbiting farther from the sun than Earth are known assuperior planets, while those orbiting closer to the sun are knownas inferior planets. Naked eye observations can tell us which arewhich.

4. Measure using a protractor the angle of greatest elongationfor Venus.

5. Mercury is never seen farther from the Sun than 28â—¦. IsMercury closer or father from the Sun than Venus? Briefly explainyour reasoning,

6. Mars is a superior planet. What is the largest possible anglebetween the Sun and Mars as measured from Earth?

7. Opposition is when a planet is in the opposite direction asthe Sun from Earth. How can we use observations of greatestelongation and opposition to determine if a planet
is inferior or superior?

8. What fraction of its complete orbit does Earth travel in 3months.

9. Mars makes one orbit around the Sun in 1.88 years. How manydegrees around its orbit does Mars move in 1 month?

10. Mars travels around the Sun in the same direction as theEarth. How many degrees does Mars travel around its orbit in 3months’ time? Each month?