Superior Conjunction (Noun)
Meaning
(astronomy) the alignment of the Earth and a planet on the opposite side of the sun.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The astronomer eagerly anticipated the superior conjunction of Jupiter with the Sun to study the planet's magnetic field.
- During a superior conjunction, the planet is invisible from Earth due to the intense glare of the Sun.
- The timing of the superior conjunction was crucial for the space probe's flyby of Mars, as it would occur when the planet was on the opposite side of the Sun.
- A superior conjunction occurs when a planet, like Venus, aligns with the Earth and Sun, making it difficult to observe from our planet.
- To study the effects of solar radiation on Mercury's surface, scientists had to wait for a superior conjunction, when the planet was positioned on the opposite side of the Sun.