What is the approximate length of the synodic period that governs Venus's full cycle of visibility?
Answer
Approximately 584 Earth days.
The synodic period defines the time required for Venus to complete its entire cycle of appearance—moving from visibility in the West, disappearing near the Sun, reappearing in the East, and disappearing again behind the Sun from our viewpoint. This full revolution of visibility, tied to the relative positions of Earth and Venus, is stated to be approximately 584 Earth days long. This period explains why observers cannot see Venus continuously throughout every single year, as it requires this specific amount of time to return to the same point in its visibility cycle relative to Earth.
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