The time of opposition can occur as much as 8.5 days away from the closest approach. The distance at close approach varies between about 54 and about 103 million km due to the planets' elliptical orbits, which causes comparable variation in angular size.
Cosmos often simply means universe. But the word is generally used to suggest an orderly or harmonious universe, as it was originally used by Pythagoras in the 6th century B.C. Thus, a religious mystic may help put us in touch with the cosmos, and so may a physicist.
Cosmos. In the general sense, a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system. The word derives from the Greek term ÎºÏÏÎ¼Î¿Ï, literally meaning order or ornament and metaphorically world, and is antithetical to the concept of chaos.Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the Latin loanword Universe.he word derives from the Greek term ÎºÏÏÎ¼Î¿Ï, literally meaning order or ornament and metaphorically world, and is antithetical to the concept of chaos. Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the Latin loanword Universe.