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Astronomy and Space

Planets and Moons

Which planets are called “inferior” planets and which are “superior” planets?

An inferior planet is one whose orbit is nearer to the sun than Earth’s orbit is. Mercury and Venus are the inferior planets. Superior planets are those whose orbits around the sun lie beyond that of Earth. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the superior planets. The terms have nothing to do with the quality of an individual planet.



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