This diagram shows the elongations (or angle) of the Earth's position from the Sun.
Elongation is an astronomical term that refers to the angle between the Sun and a planet, as viewed from Earth. figure for Positional astronomy, created by me (Looxix). ... figure for Positional astronomy, created by me (Looxix). ... Astronomy, which etymologically means law of the stars, (from Greek: αστρονομία = άστρον + νόμος) is a science involving the observation and explanation of events occurring outside Earth and its atmosphere. ... The Sun (or Sol) is the star at the center of our Solar system. ... Earth, also known as Terra, and Tellus mostly in the 19th century, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ...
When an inferior planet is visible after sunset, it is near its greatest eastern elongation. When an inferior planet is visible before sunrise, it is near its greatest western elongation. The value of the greatest elongation (west or east), for Mercury, is between 18° and 28°; and for Venus between 45° and 47°. The terms inferior planet and superior planet were coined by Copernicus to distinguish a planets orbits size in relation to the Earths. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure trace Potassium 31. ... (*min temperature refers to cloud tops only) Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 9. ...
Unfortunately for observers in the Northern hemishere, the greatest elongations of Mercury take place when the ecliptic is near the horizon, so northwards of approximately 40° it is possible not to see Mercury at greatest elongation with the naked eye.
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