90 Degree Angle between Earth, Mars, & the Sun?

In summary, The question is whether a 90 degree angle can be formed between Earth, Mars, and the Sun with Mars as the vertex. The answer is no, as the 90 degree direction from Mars will always be tangent to the circular orbit of Mars and cannot intersect Earth's circular orbit around the Sun. This is explained further by the concept of elongation in astronomy.
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Luche
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Thread moved from the technical forums, so no Homework Template is shown
Struggling a bit in my astronomy class. Trying to understand ..Is there a way to make a 90 degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun? Mars would be the vertex. Is there a simple basic answer? TIA
 
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If you are saying to put Mars at the 90 degree vertex, I think the answer is no. If you draw a line from the sun to Mars, and remembering that Mars is in a nearly circular orbit farther out from Earth's nearly circular orbit, the 90 degree direction, either way from Mars, will be tangent to the path of the circular orbit of Mars, and can't possibly intersect Earth's orbit, which is a circle with the same center (the sun) as the orbit of Mars. ## \\ ## I'm going to assume this is not a homework problem=homework problems need to go in the homework section, and the OP is required to fill out the homework template...
 
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Charles Link said:
If you are saying to put Mars at the 90 degree vertex, I think the answer is no. If you draw a line from the sun to Mars, and remembering that Mars is in a nearly circular orbit farther out from Earth's nearly circular orbit, the 90 degree direction, either way from Mars, will be tangent to the path of the circular orbit of Mars, and can't possibly intersect Earth's orbit, which is a circle with the same center (the sun) as the orbit of Mars. ## \\ ## I'm going to assume this is not a homework problem=homework problems need to go in the homework section, and the OP is required to fill out the homework template...
Thank you!
 
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Related to 90 Degree Angle between Earth, Mars, & the Sun?

1. What causes the 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun?

The 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun is caused by the relative positions of the three bodies in their orbits. As Earth and Mars revolve around the Sun, there are certain points where their orbits are at right angles to each other, creating the 90-degree angle.

2. How often does the 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun occur?

The 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun occurs approximately every 26 months. This is because Mars takes about 687 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun, while Earth takes approximately 365 days. This creates a pattern where the two planets align at a 90-degree angle every 26 months.

3. Can the 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun affect the distance between the planets?

Yes, the 90-degree angle can affect the distance between Earth and Mars. When the two planets are at a 90-degree angle, they are at their closest approach to each other, which is called opposition. This can result in a shorter distance between the two planets compared to when they are at other points in their orbits.

4. How does the 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun affect the visibility of Mars?

The 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun does not necessarily affect the visibility of Mars. However, during opposition, when the two planets are at a 90-degree angle, Mars is at its brightest and can be seen with the naked eye. This is because Mars reflects more sunlight when it is at its closest point to Earth.

5. Is there a specific time of year when the 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun occurs?

The 90-degree angle between Earth, Mars, and the Sun can occur at different times of the year, depending on the positions of the two planets in their orbits. However, opposition, when the two planets are at their closest point to each other, typically occurs in the summer months for observers in the northern hemisphere and in the winter months for observers in the southern hemisphere.

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