. These images were taken six months apart, first when Earth was as far to one side of Alpha Centauri as it can get and again when Earth was as far to the other side of Alpha Centauri as it can get. Consequently, the baseline between the two observing positions is how many AU across? Answer: 1.7 arcsec 2. First, convert this to kilometers using your measurement of how many kilometers are in an AU. 3. Now convert the baseline to kilometers using the true value for the number of kilometers in an AU. 4. Calculate the distance to Alpha Centauri using parallax and the true baseline in kilometers. 5. Google and record the true value. 6. Calculate your percent error 7. Discuss significant sources of error
1. These images were taken six months apart, first when Earth was as far to one side of Alpha Centauri as it can get and again when Earth was as far to the other side of Alpha Centauri as it can get. Consequently, the baseline between the two observing positions is how many AU across? Answer: 1.7 arcsec
2. First, convert this to kilometers using your measurement of how many kilometers are in an AU.
3. Now convert the baseline to kilometers using the true value for the number of kilometers in an AU.
4. Calculate the distance to Alpha Centauri using parallax and the true baseline in kilometers.
5. Google and record the true value.
6. Calculate your percent error
7. Discuss significant sources of error
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