Question

Two planets are never seen at midnight. Which ones and why

not? Can this be considered as evidence in favor of the helio-

centric and against the geocentric theory?
​

Answer 1

Venus and Mercury

Explanation:

• Planets Mercury and Venus are much closer to the Sun than the Earth. This would mean that their orbits lie within the orbit of the Earth. This is the reason they are not visible at midnight because we face away from the sun at midnight . So , we are only able to see the superior planets that are above the horizon farther from the sun than we are.

• According to the geocentric model the Earth is at the center of the universe, and the planets, as well as the sun and the moon, and the stars circle around it. The early heliocentric model however regard the sun as the center, and the planets revolve around the sun.
• So considering this , the above reasoning as to why Venus and Mercury are never visible at midnight might be considered in favor of heliocentric and against the geo centric theory.