WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Phases of Planets

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time
view from
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mercury seen from Earth
Venus seen from Earth
Like the Moon, planets can also have phases. This demonstrates the view of Mercury, Venus, and Earth when viewed from any of these three planets. Planets in inferior orbits undergo complete phase changes like the Moon when viewed from a planet with a superior orbit. Planets in superior orbits only go though minor changes in phase when viewed from a planet with an inferior orbit.