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opposition
situation where two celestial bodies are on opposite sides of the sky, viewed from a given place (usually Earth)
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Opposition is when two celestial bodies appear on opposite sides of the sky as seen from Earth, with Earth positioned between them. This alignment matters because it's often when planets are closest to Earth and brightest, making them ideal times for observation and study.
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Diagram of positional astronomy
In positional astronomy, two astronomical objects are said to be in opposition when they are on opposite sides of the celestial sphere, as observed from a given body (usually Earth).