To find the distance to nearby stars, the method of parallax is used. The idea is to find a triangle with the star at one vertex and with a base as large as possible. To do this, the star is observed at two different times exactly 6 months apart, and its apparent change in position is recorded. From these two observations ∠E1SE2 can be calculated. (The times are chosen so that ∠E1SE2 is as large as possible, which guarantees that ∠E1OS is 90°.) The angle E1SO is called the parallax of the star. Sirius, one of the stars nearest the earth, has a parallax of θ = 0.000106°. Estimate the distance to this star from E1. (Take the distance from the earth to the sun to be 9.3 107 mi. Enter your answer in scientific notation. Round the base to two decimal places
To find the distance to nearby stars, the method of parallax is used. The idea is to find a
can be calculated. (The times are chosen so that
is as large as possible, which guarantees that
is 90°.) The
is called the parallax of the star. Sirius, one of the stars nearest the earth, has a parallax of θ = 0.000106°. Estimate the distance to this star from E1. (Take the distance from the earth to the sun to be 9.3 107 mi. Enter your answer in scientific notation. Round the base to two decimal places.)
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