Planets in Orbit

What is the Ecliptical Plane?

What is the Zodiac? How big (angle) is it in the sky?

How is Pluto's orbit different from the other planets?

The word planet comes from a word meaning "wanderer". Why?

Explain, in your own words, why Mars sometimes appears to move backwards. What is this kind of motion called? What are "stationary points"?

What are the two inferior planets?

Why are they only seen near sunrise or sunset?

Define the following terms

a) Greatest elongation

b) Conjunction

c) Opposition

d) Transit

e) Occultation

The official purpose of Captain Cook's first voyage was to accurately observe the transit of Venus.

Find out why it was very important to astronomers. How long does a transit of Venus take?