Opposition (astronomy and astrology)

Opposition is a word used in observational astronomy (and also astrology). It is used when two objects in the sky are on the opposite side of the sky when viewed from the Earth.

In particular, two planets are in opposition to each other when their ecliptic longitudes differ by 180°. When talking about a single object being in opposition, it is assumed to be opposite from the sun.

The Moon is in opposition to the Sun when it is a full moon.^[1]

The symbol of opposition is ☍.

A planet (or asteroid or comet) is said to be "in opposition" when it is in opposition to the Sun as seen from the Earth. This is the best time to observe a planet because:

• it is visible almost all night, rising around sunset, culminating around midnight and setting around sunrise
• its orbit brings it closest to the Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter
• light reflects more brightly from bodies with rough surfaces, at that angle

References

1. U.S. Naval Observatory Nautical Almanac Office, P. Kenneth Seidelmann (ed) 1992. Explanatory supplement to the Astronomical Almanac. University Science Books, Mill Valley CA, 733. ISBN 0-935702-68-7