The Nine Planets , a Multimedia Tour of the Solar System by Bill Arnett Welcome to the Planets Additional Questions for the Interested Describe and compare qualitatively the motions of the inferior and superior planets in the sky. The maximum elongation of the inferior planets Given the radii of the inferior planets calculate the maximum elongation for each inferior planet. With this knowledge, recalculate the maximum elongation of Mercury and compare it to the correct value. The altitude h of a celestial object is the angle between the horizon and the object as measured from the observer. If U is the sidereal orbital period of a planet and J the sidereal orbital period of the earth, derive a formula for the synodic period S of the planet.
Inferior planets can pass in front of the sun.