Alignment of the Planets

The APL Astronomy Club

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Learning about Astronomy _____________________________

Conjunction -
The moment when two celestial objects lie closest together in the sky.

Maximum Easterly or Westerly Elongation -
A position farthest from the Sun and in the best position to observe the planet from the Earth.

Opposition -
When Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn (outside the Earth's orbit and visible to the naked eye) move into a position opposite the Sun and are in the night sky.

Retrograde Orbit -
When more than two planets move in elliptical orbit about the Sun (the sun at one foci). When viewed from Earth, against the stationary star background, another planet appears to move towards then stops and move away in the opposition direction.

MORE INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED SOON!

There have been: Visitors since 11/19/98
This web site was updated on 08/10/99

For additional information contact

Bernie Kluga President, Mark Simpson VP , Carol Bates, Treasurer, Nick Beser, Secretary

APL Amateur Astronomy Club, 443-778-7257 or 240-228-7257