elongations definition of elongations in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

elongation, in astronomy, the angular distance between two points in the sky as measured from a third point. The elongation of a planet is usually measured as the angular distance from the sun to the planet as measured from the earth. When a planet lies on the line drawn from the earth to the sun, its elongation is 0° and is said to be in conjunction conjunction, in astronomy, alignment of two celestial bodies as seen from the earth. Conjunction of the moon and the planets is often determined by reference to the sun.
..... Click the link for more information. . When a planet's elongation is 90°, it is in quadrature quadrature, in astronomy, arrangement of two celestial bodies at right angles to each other as viewed from a reference point. If the reference point is the earth and the sun is one of the bodies, a planet is in quadrature when its elongation is 90°.
..... Click the link for more information. . When its elongation is 180°, it is in opposition opposition, in astronomy, alignment of two celestial bodies on opposite sides of the sky as viewed from earth. Opposition of the moon or planets is often determined in reference to the sun.
..... Click the link for more information. . Elongation is measured east (eastern quadrature) or west (western quadrature) from the sun. The superior planets superior planet, planet whose orbit lies outside that of the earth. The superior planets are Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
..... Click the link for more information. can have elongations between 0° and 180°; the elongations of the inferior planets inferior planet, planet whose orbit lies inside that of the earth. There are two inferior planets, Mercury and Venus. They always seem to be close to the sun in the sky; the greatest elongation of Mercury is 28°, and that of Venus, 47°.
..... Click the link for more information. are limited by their proximity to the sun. The greatest elongation of Mercury is 28°, and of Venus, 47°.

elongation (redirected from elongations)

elongation
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