1. In observational astronomy, Mercury is considered as an 'inferior' planet because, It has a smaller diameter than the Earth It orbits closer to the sun than the Earth It has no natural satellites
2. Planet Mercury can be best viewed when it is at, Greatest elongation Inferior conjunction Superior conjuction
3. When Mercury is best visible as the 'morning star', it is at, Greatest western elongation Greatest eastern elongation Eastern superior conjuction
4. Planet Mercury is best observed in the evening sky when it is at, Greatest western elongation Greatest eastern elongation Western superior conjunction
5. Synodic period is the avarage time between two successive conjunctions. What is Mercury's synodic period? 88 Earth days 116 Earth days 176 Earth days
6. The earliest observational records of planet Mercury were made by, Claudius Ptolemy Mayan astronomers Egyptian astronomers
7. Who was the first to observe the phases of Mercury? Johannes Hevelius Giovanni Schiaparelli Galileo Galilei
8. On which position does planet Mercury appear brightest? Superior conjuction Inferior conjuction Greatest elongation
9. What is the maximum visual magnitude of Mercury? -3.6 -2.4 -1.9
10. What is the minimum value of Mercury's greatest elongation? 7 degrees 18 degrees 27 degrees
