The synodic period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive
A) greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation).
B) passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from Earth.
C) passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from the Sun.
D) identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The synodic period of a planet is the time it takes for the planet to return to the same position in the sky relative to the Sun, as observed from Earth, such as from one opposition to the next for outer planets or from one conjunction to the next for inner planets. This involves the Earth's position changing relative to the planet and the Sun, making option D correct.

The Synodic Period of a Planet Is Defined as the Time