superior conjunction

American  

[suh-peer-ee-er kuhn-juhngk-shuhn, soo‐] / səˈpɪər i ər kənˈdʒʌŋk ʃən, sʊ‐ /

noun

Astronomy.

1. the alignment of an inferior planet and the sun in which the planet is at the far side of the sun from the earth.

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superior conjunction Scientific  

/ s-pîr′ē-ər /

1. See under conjunction

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Etymology

Origin of superior conjunction

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The effervescent Venus reached superior conjunction Aug. 14 and will emerge from the sun’s glare later in September, low in the evening’s western sky.

From Washington Post • Aug. 31, 2019

By convention, it refers to the projected semi-major axis that corresponds to superior conjunction.

From Nature • Apr. 4, 2014

For their story, Cahill and Marling borrow from the idea of superior conjunction, positing that the planet was previously hidden behind the sun.

From Scientific American • Feb. 16, 2011

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

Venus is thus Hesperus or Vesper, the evening star, when following the sun as she passes from beyond him in superior conjunction to inferior conjunction where she is nearest to the earth.

From Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20) Wonders of Earth, Sea and Sky by Holden, Edward Singleton