Inferior and superior planets

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The terms "inferior planet" and "superior planet" were coined by Copernicus to distinguish a planet's orbit's size in relation to the Earth's.

"Inferior planet" is used in reference to Mercury and Venus, which are closer to the Sun than the Earth is.

"Superior planet" is used in reference to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, which are farther from the Sun than the Earth is.

The terms are sometimes used more generally: for instance, the Earth is an inferior planet as seen from Mars.

This classification should not be confused with the terms inner and outer planet, which designate those (rocky) planets which lie inside the asteroid belt and those (gaseous) that lie outside it, respectively.

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