Unit 5- Solar System Observations Flashcards

1
Q

What is retrograde motion?

A

When the Earth passes a slower moving planet so the planet it passes seems to move backwards (E.g. east to west)

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2
Q

What is the order for the 13 zodiacs?

A

All The Great Constellations Live Very Long Since Ordinary Stars Can’t Alter Physics
(Ares Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Ophiuchus Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces)

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3
Q

What happens during an inferior conjunction?

A

Planet passes BETWEEN the Earth and the Sun

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4
Q

Which 2 planets can inferior conjunction only occur to?

A

Mercury or Venus

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5
Q

What happens during a superior conjunction?

A

A planet lies on a straight line joining the Earth, Sun and the planet. But the planets are on either side of the sun

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6
Q

What can superior conjunctions happen to?

A

Any planet, or any comet or objects

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7
Q

What happens during opposition?

A

The planet is the opposite direction to the Sun and the Earth. It’s the best time to observe said planet because it’s closest, and the side facing Earth is FULLY ILLUMINATED.

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8
Q

What happens during opposition?

A

The planet is the opposite direction to the Sun and the Earth. It’s the best time to observe said planet because it’s closest, and the side facing Earth is FULLY ILLUMINATED.

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9
Q

What can opposition happen to?

A

Any planet BUT Mercury and Venus

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10
Q

What is it called when something is: 1.) To the right of the Sun 2.) To the left of the Sun

A

1.) Anything to the RIGHT of the Sun is Westwards
2.) Anything to the LEFT of the Sun is Eastwards

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11
Q

What is elongation?

A

The angle at which we see an inferior planet.
VENUS never moves 47 degrees away from the Sun
MERCURY has a maximum elongation of 22 degrees

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12
Q

What is the GEE and the GWE?

A

The maximum points of elongation to the East and the West

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13
Q

What is occultation?

A

A dramatic transit where one celestial body obscures and covers another so it blocks the light. This is most typically the Moon occulting (hiding) behind a planet or star, or it is also likely for a planet to occult a star

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