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Planetary Configurations and Phases The Modern Solar System The planets of the modern solar system are grouped into several different and sometimes overlapping classifications: The planets inside the orbit of the earth are called the Inferior Planets: Mercury and Venus. The planets outside the orbit of the earth are called the Superior Planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The planets inside the asteroid belt are termed the Inner Planets (or the Terrestrial Planets): Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The planets outside the asteroid belt are termed the Outer Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The planets sharing the gaseous structure of Jupiter are termed the Gas Giant (or Jovian) Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Configurations Location of the planet with respect to the celestial sphere Conjunction – when a planet is at the same longitude along the sun's path (in line with the Sun) Opposition – when a planet makes an angle of 1800 from the Sun as viewed from the Earth (opposite direction from the Sun) Quadrature - when a planet makes an angle with the Sun of 900 when viewed from Earth (right angle with the Sun) Greatest Elongation - the largest separation of the planet from the Sun in our sky, either to the East, or to the West Superior vs. Inferior Planets The configurations and phases of the superior and inferior planets differ because of geometry: o Superior = orbits are outside that of the Earth o Inferior = orbits are between the Earth and the Sun The superior planets do not exhibit a full range of phases; they are always gibbous or full. The superior planets can be located at any distance East (left) or West (right) of the Sun in our sky, unlike the inferior planets where there is a limiting angle away from the Sun (greatest elongation).