Why is the brightest planet called 'inferior?'
6 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Monday, Nov 24 2008
If you have a clear view of the southwest sky at dusk and early evening, you simply can’t miss the planets Venus and Jupiter. These two worlds are the brightest points of light in the heavens, and they’re now putting on a dazzling show in the southwestern twilight, appearing closer together each evening. Venus and Jupiter rank as the third and fourth brightest celestial bodies, respectively, and are only surpassed in brilliance by the sun and the moon.
These brilliant beauties adorn the southwest sky at dusk or early evening. But look for them not long after the sun goes down. By the time mid-evening comes rolling around, Venus and Jupiter will have already set.
Astronomers refer to Venus as an inferior planet and to Jupiter as a superior planet. The terminology hardly seems to fit, since Venus is clearly the brighter planet as seen from Earth. But inferior and superior do not have anything to do with the planet’s brilliance or size. Planets whose orbits reside inside of Earth’s orbit are called inferior planets, while planets whose orbits lie outside of Earth’s orbit are called superior planets.
Earth is the third planet outward from the sun. Because Venus is the second planet outward, it’s called an inferior planet. Because Jupiter is the fifth planet outward, it’s a superior planet. Perhaps the words interior and exterior would make more sense!
Saw an lite in the southwest sky sort of V shaped. This appeared at about 5:30 PM. I live in Tinley Park Illinois. This happened on 11-23-08. Also saw one slightly above it in the same direction. Siteing lasted about 1 hr.
I saw these in the sky just now (Brighton, UK) and came here to check what they were. I had guessed at Venus, being so close to the sunset – so thanks for the info.
They are looking absolutely beautiful in a sky above the English Channel and with colours not at all dissimilar to the picture you have above.
I am very new at truly “seeing” what I look up at in the sky and am just beginning to try and figure out what things are. Thursday night Nov 20th at about 5:40pm (in Plano TX) I looked up in the western sky and saw “something” heading south, but I don’t know what. It was a a bright yellowish ball, with a white tail that had two distinct “sides” coming off the top and bottom of the ball. The sky was not yet dark, but the object was very highly visible even in a fairly light sky. I would love to know what I was looking at. THANKS!
was there a trail of smoke after it
While I was looking at Venus and Jupitor tonight a large red fireball came flying from the sky traveling from east to west then burning out.I live in west central Indiana. Anybody else see this?
that is cool i finally got to use the telescope my dad got me for christmas
p.s. thanks dad (if you are reading this)