Reference no: EM132450449

1: For inferior planets, which is longer: the sidereal period or the synodic period? Why?

2: Mercury's orbit is distinctly eccentric. Based on Kepler's second law, which is the law about equal areas in equal times, when would Mercury be moving fastest? Slowest? Explain, in terms of Kepler's second law, how you were able to conclude this.

3: Describe what Venus would look like, including its phase, visibility from Earth, relative size, and time of day it should be visible, in each of the following configurations: a) superior conjunction, b) inferior conjunction, and c) greatest elongation.

4: For the superior planets, which is longer: the sidereal period or the synodic period? Why?

5: Based on the periods and semimajor axes you observed for the planets, for which planet(s) does Kepler's third law hold true? Remember, the numbers you are using are not exact, so you can conclude that it is holding true even if the square of the period is only approximately equal to the cube of the semimajor axis. Be sure to pay attention to the units of measurement you need to use.

6: How are the phases of Mars different than those of Venus?

7: In which configuration would it be easiest to observe Mars from Earth? Why? Describe some of the differences you might notice in Mars' appearance and how easy or hard it is to view during this configuration compared to the other configuration when Mars appears to be in the full phase.

8: Which planets can transit the Sun? Which phase will they be in when they do? Which configuration will they be in? When will the next transit be for each of these planets?

9: When will Jupiter next exhibit retrograde motion? determine the approximate date of the beginning of Jupiter's retrograde motion, the approximate date of the end, and the approximate length of time Jupiter will be in retrograde. Record this information in your submission. Would the length of time Jupiter is in retrograde be longer or shorter than the length of time Mars is in retrograde? Why?