Can two adjacent, life-sustaining planets orbit a star such that they are rarely near each other?

I have two planets and humans live on both of them. Humans need not have developed on these planets, but the planets should support human life with the allowance that the humans have technology comparable to modern day Earth.

Planet A is roughly the size and climate of Earth, with a circular or near-circular orbit.

Planet B can be a different size (probably smaller), and has the tricky orbit I can't quite picture.

Is it possible that the two planets can orbit the same star such that:

• Planet A and Planet B occasionally come very near to one another, but are usually distant

• Planet B's climate is at least reasonably hospitable

What would PlanetB's orbit have to look like for this to happen?

Edit: This "nearness" should mean that casual (or crude) space travel becomes possible between them, like a trip. The planets would remain so close to one another for a short time (days or a couple weeks at most) and then not line up with each other again for 5-10 years.

posted almost 7 years ago

KoaxialKable‭

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