Cardiff Astronomical Society -Planetary Terms Planetary Terms . Inferior planets have orbits that are closer to the Sun than is Earth's orbit.
Superior planets have orbits that are farther from the Sun than Earth's orbit.
Inferior Conjunction Inferior Conjunction. Superior Conjunction Superior Conjunction. There is no equlivelant of an inferior conjunction for a superior planet, as it never passes between the earth and the sun. This is generally the closest it comes to the Earth and the time at which it is most easily visible. Aphelion and Perihelion Aphelion the point on its orbit when a body is farthest from the sun.