Either of the two planets Mercury and Venus, whose orbits are closer to the sun than the earth's.
〔天文〕地（轨）内行星（指水星或金星）
Example sentencesExamples
The inferior planets Mercury and Venus (which constitute the biological and lower levels of the mind) are under natural law; that is, they work as rhythm and reflex, you can't stop them.
Mars is designated a superior planet while Venus is called an inferior planet, yet both are fascinating and prominent objects in the night sky.
Mercury and Venus are inferior planets, those with orbits smaller than the Earth's.
For the inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, when they are between earth and the Sun, they appear to move direct; however, when they are on the other side of the sun (Sun is between the planet and earth), they appear retrograde.
Mercury is an inferior planet, in detriment and fall, and even in the sign of Jupiter, an indication of capture.
Definition of inferior planet in US English:
inferior planet
noun
Astronomy
Either of the two planets Mercury and Venus, whose orbits are closer to the sun than the earth's.
〔天文〕地（轨）内行星（指水星或金星）
Compare with superior planet
Example sentencesExamples
Mercury and Venus are inferior planets, those with orbits smaller than the Earth's.
The inferior planets Mercury and Venus (which constitute the biological and lower levels of the mind) are under natural law; that is, they work as rhythm and reflex, you can't stop them.
For the inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, when they are between earth and the Sun, they appear to move direct; however, when they are on the other side of the sun (Sun is between the planet and earth), they appear retrograde.
Mercury is an inferior planet, in detriment and fall, and even in the sign of Jupiter, an indication of capture.
Mars is designated a superior planet while Venus is called an inferior planet, yet both are fascinating and prominent objects in the night sky.