Relating Synodic and Sidereal Periods

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Synodic and Sidereal Periods

Planet's synodic period - Time required for the planet to complete one complete orbit (Time that elapse between two successive identical configurations as seen from Earth).

Planet's sidereal period - Time between two successive identical configurations (True orbital period of a planet, the time it takes the planet to complete one full orbit of the Sun).

For inferior planets:
Orbit smaller than Earth's orbit (Example - Mercury, Venus)
For inferior planets
where:
P - Inferior planet's sidereal period
E - Earth's sidereal period = 1 year
S - Inferior planet's synodic period

For superior planets:
Orbit larger than Earth's orbit (Examples - Mars, Jupiter, Saturn)
For superior planets
where:
P - Superior planet's sidereal period
E - Earth's sidereal period = 1 year
S - Superior planet's synodic period