Maximum Elongations
The Maximum Elongations study finds when an inferior planet reaches its greatest angular distance from the Sun.
Creating a Maximum Elongations Study
To create a Maximum Elongations study:
- Click Mundane Studies → Longitudinal Studies → Maximum Elongations on the menu bar.
The new study opens with the workspace's default settings, ready to configure. You can also create it from the study-group dropdown button on the main toolbar.
Events Captured
A maximum elongation occurs when an inferior planet reaches its greatest angular distance from the Sun. At a maximum eastern elongation the planet stands farthest east of the Sun and is visible in the western sky after sunset. At a maximum western elongation it stands farthest west of the Sun and is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. These are the moments when an inferior planet such as Mercury or Venus is best placed for observation.
An Event Type dropdown controls which elongations are captured: eastern, western, or both.
Events Table Columns
The events table shows the following columns for a Maximum Elongations study. Many are hidden by default; you can show or hide any column by right-clicking a column header (see Event Column Visibility).
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Date Time | Date and time of the maximum elongation event. |
| Event Type | Elongation type (maximum eastern or western elongation). |
| Body | Name of the inferior planet. |
| Body Longitude | Ecliptic longitude of the body (relabeled "Body Right Asc" in equatorial mode). |
| Body Sign | Zodiac sign of the body. |
| Body Latitude | Ecliptic latitude of the body (relabeled "Body Declination" in equatorial mode). |
| Body Distance | Distance of the body. |
| Body Speed | Longitudinal speed of the body. |
| Elongation | Angular distance of the body from the Sun at maximum elongation. |
| Sun Longitude | Ecliptic longitude of the Sun (relabeled "Sun Right Asc" in equatorial mode). |
| Sun Sign | Zodiac sign of the Sun. |
| Sun Latitude | Ecliptic latitude of the Sun (relabeled "Sun Declination" in equatorial mode). |
| Sun Distance | Distance of the Sun. |
| Sun Speed | Longitudinal speed of the Sun. |
| Event Interval | Time interval since the previous event. |