inferior planet

American  

[in-feer-ee-er plan-it] / ɪnˈfɪər i ər ˈplæn ɪt /

noun

Astronomy.

1. (relative to Earth) either of the two planets whose orbits are closer to the sun, namely, Venus and Mercury.

2. (relative to a given planet) any planet whose orbit is closer to the sun.

   From the perspective of Jupiter, Earth is an inferior planet.

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inferior planet British  

noun

1. either of the planets Mercury and Venus, whose orbits lie inside that of the earth

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inferior planet Scientific  

1. Either of the planets Mercury or Venus, whose orbits lie between Earth and the Sun. Because these planets lie in the general direction of the Sun, they can only be seen a few hours before sunrise or after sunset and are always positioned relatively near the horizon, never overhead. Inferior planets go through a complete cycle of phases as viewed from Earth, although their full phase, which occurs on the far side of the Sun, is lost in its glare.

2. Compare superior planet See also inner planet

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Etymology

Origin of inferior planet

First recorded in 1715–20

Example Sentences

At a transit of an inferior planet over the sun, this term means the passing off of the planet from his disc.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

When an inferior planet is situated in the same longitude as the sun, and has that luminary between it and the earth, it is said to be in superior conjunction.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Piecing together the results given us at these more favourable views, we are enabled, bit by bit, to gather some small knowledge concerning the surface of an inferior planet.

From Astronomy of To-day A Popular Introduction in Non-Technical Language by Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius

Unquestionably a sun-spot had been seen by earlier observers, and by them mistaken for the transit of an inferior planet.

From A History of Science — Volume 2 by Williams, Henry Smith

The first person known to have observed a transit of an inferior planet was the celebrated French philosopher, Gassendi.

From Astronomy of To-day A Popular Introduction in Non-Technical Language by Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius