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Volume 22 -- Issue 2
Above the Solar System -- February 2016

Name February 05 February 15 February 25
Mercury 209o 03' 238o 57' 266o 33'
Venus 241o 05' 256o 59' 272o 50'
Earth 135o 36' 145o 43' 155o 48'
Mars 189o 56' 194o 28' 199o 02'
Jupiter 165o 49' 166o 35' 167o 21'
Saturn 249o 29' 249o 48' 250o 06'
Plot planet positions using polar graph paper or the provided activity sheet.

This uses a coordinate system which allows for the plotting of a planet position along its orbital path using degrees (0o to 360o) of heliocentric longitude. Once plotted the orbital position of one planet could be compared with that of another planet. Or the relative orbital speeds of an inner planet could be compared with that of an outer planet.

Terrestrial Planets in Motion at 5 day intervals -February 2016
Above the Terrestrial Planets -  2016

Click here to see an animated graphic showing the
Terrestrial Planets orbiting the Sun during 2016.

Explore our Solar System with this really cool tool. Click here to go to the Solar System Scope web site.