Here's why:
* Inferior Planets: These are planets that orbit closer to the sun than Earth (Mercury and Venus).
* Greatest Elongation: This is the point in an inferior planet's orbit where it appears furthest from the sun in the sky, as viewed from Earth.
* Why It Happens: Due to the orbital mechanics, an inferior planet's greatest elongation occurs when the angle between the planet, the sun, and Earth is at its maximum.
At greatest elongation, the inferior planet can be seen for a longer period during the night or day, depending on whether it's in eastern or western elongation.
