Set the chart mode to star atlas. Set the field to 45°. Set the display to center on the Sun and lock on the Sun. Be sure the Sun, Venus, the constellations, and the constellation names are turned on. Set the date to January 1, 2004. Set the step size to 1 day and start the animation. When Venus passes the Sun, stop the animation and step back and forth until Venus and the Sun are in conjunction. Click on Venus and record the date, the phase of Venus, and the distance of Venus. Restart the animation and repeat for the next three conjunctions of Venus. Using your data, decide which conjunctions are superior conjunctions and which are inferior conjunctions. Calculate the time interval between successive superior conjunctions and between successive inferior conjunctions. How do these time intervals compare with the synodic period of Venus?
