Question 1497Navigation General

70% to pass

Opposition occurs when _______________.

A the Earth is between a planet and the Sun
B the Sun, Earth, and Moon are at right angles
C an inferior planet is at the maximum angle to the line of sight to the Sun
D the Sun's declination is 0° and is moving south
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) the Earth is between a planet and the Sun. Opposition occurs when a planet is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. In this configuration, the Earth is directly between the planet and the Sun, which allows the planet to be fully illuminated from the Earth's perspective, resulting in the planet appearing at its brightest in the night sky. The other options are incorrect because they describe different astronomical phenomena that are not related to the definition of opposition.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG National Maritime Center
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