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The reason it is not possible for Mars to orbit the Sun between Earth and Jupiter while Venus can is due to their respective orbital patterns and distances from the Sun.

The arrangement of planets in the solar system is based on their distances from the Sun. The inner planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are located closer to the Sun, while the outer planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are farther away.

Venus, being an inner planet, orbits closer to the Sun than Earth. Its average distance from the Sun is about 0.72 astronomical units (AU). Earth's average distance is about 1 AU. Since Venus is located between the Sun and Earth, it can appear on either side of the Sun in our sky, depending on its position in its orbit.

On the other hand, Mars is also an inner planet but orbits farther from the Sun than both Earth and Venus. Its average distance from the Sun is about 1.52 AU. With this greater distance, Mars can never be located on the same side of the Sun as Earth or closer to the Sun than Earth. Therefore, Mars cannot appear in the sky between Earth and Jupiter, as Jupiter is located beyond the orbit of Mars.

In summary, the possibility of a planet appearing between Earth and Jupiter depends on its orbital distance from the Sun. Venus, being closer to the Sun than Earth, can appear in the sky between Earth and the Sun, while Mars, being farther from the Sun, cannot.

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