Planetary phase angle of Hohmann transfer This is Question 23 from USAAAO First Round 2015. The answer is D. Can someone show how to get the answer?

Calculate the planetary phase angle (counterclockwise from Earth, a =
1.0 AU) that a probe may correctly complete a Hohmann transfer orbit to Venus (a = 0.7 AU)

a. 141 degrees
b. 17.5 degrees
c. 121 degrees
d. 241 degrees
e. 343 degrees


What I tried:

Semimajor axis of Hohmann orbit: 0.85 AU
Period of Hohmann orbit: 0.7836 yr
Time of flight: 0.3918 yr
Period of Venus: 0.5856 yr
Angular distance travelled by Venus during flight: 241°

The last one looks suspiciously similar to the answer, but using that angular distance the phase angle should be 61°. Feel free to correct me anywhere that I’m wrong
Let's assume that Earth and Venus have circular, coplanar orbits.
The spacecraft advances 180&deg; in heliocentric ecliptic longitude in 143 days; meanwhile, Venus advances 241&deg; and Earth advances 141&deg;.
When the spacecraft departs from Earth (left), Venus should be 61&deg; behind Earth as seen from the Sun.
When the spacecraft arrives at Venus (right), Venus should be 39&deg; ahead of Earth.



The Sun-Earth-Venus angle marked in green in your second figure is Venus's elongation, 43&deg; east of the Sun as seen from Earth at departure time.

In another context, "phase angle" could refer to the Sun-Venus-Earth angle.
At departure time, an Earth-based observer would see Venus in a 76&deg; phase angle or 62% illuminated.