Encyclopedia

inferior planet

Also found in: Dictionary, Wikipedia.

inferior planet

[in′fir·ē·ər ′plan·ət]
(astronomy)
A planet that circles the sun in an orbit that is smaller than the earth's.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
Consider, though, the plight of observers who favor the so-called inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, which circle the Sun inside Earth's orbit and thus never have oppositions.
Superior moments for inferior planets
Of the two inferior planets, Mercury, because of its unusual orbit, requires a special solution to the problem of the equant.
An Islamic Response to Greek Astronomy: Kitab Tad dil Hay at al-Aflak of Sadr al-Sharia
The possibility that the inferior planets might occasionally pass in front of the Sun was not considered until the early part of the seventeenth century, when Kepler predicted transits of both Mercury and Venus for 1631.
The transit of Venus, 2012 June 5-6
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.