Conjunction and opposition

[SlyReaper]

So conjunction is when the planet is on the opposite side of the sun, opposition is when the planet is conjoined in its orbit with Earth... Is it just me, or does this make no sense?

I ask because I was only just corrected about it yesterday.  For years, I've been using conjunction to mean when a planet is on the same side of the sun as the Earth, and opposition for when it's on the opposite side.

[Doley68]

Hi,

Conjunction is when a celestial on object is close to another. For example, Jupiter is in conjunction with the moon.

Opposition means opposite the sun, so south at midnight.  .

Chris.

[swamp thing]

The superior planets (orbits outside earths) are said to be at conjunction when they are directly behind the sun as seen from earth.

The Inferior planets have two types of conjunction. Inferior conjunction ~ when they are between the earth and the sun and exterior conjunction ~ when on the far side of the sun.

Opposition is when a planet is opposite the sun in the sky.

[Doley68]

The superior planets (orbits outside earths) are said to be at conjunction when they are directly behind the sun as seen from earth.

The Inferior planets have two types of conjunction. Inferior conjunction ~ when they are between the earth and the sun and exterior conjunction ~ when on the far side of the sun.

Opposition is when a planet is opposite the sun in the sky.

Absolutely right Steve. The confusing thing is that the word conjunction can be used in a few different ways. I think between us we have covered it pretty well.

[Ant]

We have a glossary of terms on SGL (Conjunction is missing - I'll fix that), but this link might help with some of the things that are talked about on SGL (and other forums).

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/98716-abbreviations-acronyms-and-glossary-of-terms/

Cheers

Ant

[clarkpm4242]

I use this understanding for 'conjunction'...

...when 2 or more celestial objects 'appear' to be close for an earth based observer.   irrespective of their real positions.

Opposition is an absolute statement of position relative to the sun and earth.

Cheers

Paul

[SlyReaper]

I guess my mistake then was to think the sun is the centre of the solar system, not the Earth.