{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.inferior-and-superior-planets","code":"thing-q337768","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q337768/","name":"inferior and superior planets","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"research-draft","version":"0.2.0-wave.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.SPC"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A classification of planets relative to Earth orbit: inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, orbit closer to the Sun than Earth, while superior planets, from Mars outward, orbit farther away; the terms differ from inner and outer planets, which are divided by the asteroid belt.","purpose":"Let an agent explain inferior and superior planets and their observable consequences, such as phases, elongation, transits, oppositions and retrograde motion.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Defined relative to Earth orbit","Different viewing geometry","Inferior planets show full phases","Superior planets reach opposition"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"classify","name":"Classify","description":"Which class.","layers":[{"id":"which","name":"Which","description":"Classification.","findings":[{"id":"which-finding","name":"Which","description":"Classification.","questions":[{"text":"Is this planet inferior or superior?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How does this differ from inner and outer planets?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"Terminology.","findings":[{"id":"history-finding","name":"History","description":"Terminology.","questions":[{"text":"Where do the terms inferior and superior come from, according to historians of astronomy?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Are they still used?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"inferior","name":"Inferior","description":"Mercury and Venus.","layers":[{"id":"phases","name":"Phases","description":"Phases and elongation.","findings":[{"id":"phases-finding","name":"Phases","description":"Phases and elongation.","questions":[{"text":"Why do inferior planets show phases and never appear far from the Sun?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"When is the next greatest elongation?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"transit","name":"Transit","description":"Transits.","findings":[{"id":"transit-finding","name":"Transit","description":"Transits.","questions":[{"text":"When is the next transit of Mercury or Venus?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"How can it be observed safely?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"superior","name":"Superior","description":"Mars and beyond.","layers":[{"id":"opposition","name":"Opposition","description":"Opposition.","findings":[{"id":"opposition-finding","name":"Opposition","description":"Opposition.","questions":[{"text":"When is this planet next at opposition?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Why is it brightest then?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"retrograde","name":"Retrograde","description":"Apparent motion.","findings":[{"id":"retrograde-finding","name":"Retrograde","description":"Retrograde motion.","questions":[{"text":"Why do superior planets appear to move backwards for a while?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Is this an illusion of viewpoint?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"observing","name":"Observing","description":"Practical viewing.","layers":[{"id":"safety","name":"Safety","description":"Sun safety.","findings":[{"id":"safety-finding","name":"Safety","description":"Sun safety.","questions":[{"text":"Is the planet close to the Sun in the sky right now?","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"How can it be observed without risking eye damage?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"plan","name":"Plan","description":"Finding planets.","findings":[{"id":"plan-finding","name":"Plan","description":"Planning.","questions":[{"text":"Where and when can this planet be seen tonight, according to an almanac?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which apps or ephemerides help?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Classify planets as inferior or superior and explain the difference from inner and outer planets.","Explain the visibility and phases that follow from the classification."],"mustNot":["Confuse inferior and superior with inner and outer planets.","Present the terms as judgements of the planets' quality.","Present astrological claims about the planets as astronomy."],"requiresHuman":["Using the classification in teaching material as authoritative."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Clear science teaching helps people tell astronomy from astrology."],"affectedParties":["Students and teachers","Amateur observers"]},"owners":{"steward":"Nobody owns the classification; the astronomical community uses it.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q13205267","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"planet classification","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"inner and outer planets","type":"related","note":"related classification"},{"target":"Venus","type":"related","note":"inferior example"},{"target":"Mars","type":"related","note":"superior example"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.inferior-and-superior-planets","Wikidata: Q337768 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q337768)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":[]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Venus and Mercury near the Sun","Mars and outer planets at opposition","Inner and outer planets divide at the asteroid belt","Planets in the sky near the Sun (inferior) or visible all night at opposition (superior)."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["classify a planet as inferior or superior","explain phases and greatest elongation","explain opposition and retrograde motion","plan observations"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Confusing with inner and outer planets","Eye damage when observing near the Sun"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["IAU planet definitions"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Planetary astronomy and observing.","inferior planets","superior planets"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q337768: inferior and superior planets","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q337768","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Inferior and superior planets","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferior_and_superior_planets","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each class be a separate entry?","How should ephemerides be linked?","How should dwarf planets be treated?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q337768/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q337768/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-11T13:55:32Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"missing","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{},"score":0.941}}