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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