superior planet

astronomy

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July 14, 2026

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In astronomy, a "superior planet" is a planet whose orbit lies outside of Earth's orbit. Examples of superior planets in our solar system include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets are also known as outer planets.12

In contrast, "inferior planets" have orbits smaller than Earth's, such as Mercury and Venus. When a superior planet is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, it is in a "superior conjunction". The term "super-Earth" refers to a type of exoplanet that is between 2 to 10 times the mass of Earth, a category not found in our solar system.34

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opposition
A superior planet (one with an orbit farther from the Sun than Earth’s) is in opposition when Earth passes between it and the Sun. The opposition of a planet is a good time to observe it, because the planet is then at its nearest point to…
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A superior planet (one with an orbit farther from the Sun than Earth’s) is in opposition when Earth passes between it and the Sun. The opposition of a planet is a good time to observe it, because the planet is then at its nearest point to…
Read More