Astronomy
Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 19, Problem 1E

Explain how parallax measurements can be used to determine distances to stars. Why can we not make accurate measurements of parallax beyond a certain distance?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

Toexplain:

The way the distances to the stars can be determined by measuring the parallax angle.

The reason that the accurate measurements of parallax cannot be done beyond a certain distance.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The changes or shifts in the position of a star, when it is being viewed from two dissimilar locations, is known as parallax. It is used to measure distances of the stars that are within a particular distance.

Distance of star is inversely proportional to the parallax.

i.e. D=1p

A triangle is formed between groundline, star and position at two different times,from two positions of Earth from the groundline. The ultimate angular distance between two positions gives an accurate parallax angle.

Thus, the total distance to a star is inverse in relation like above.

There is a procedure to find the distance to a star by using parallax in which D is Distance to a star, P is the parallax angle as shown in the diagram below:

Astronomy, Chapter 19, Problem 1E

According to the figure,

tan p =  1d,tanppso, p=1D ,

Rearrange for D,

D=1p

Conclusion:

As the distance between the star and the earth surface increases, there is a decrease inthe parallax angle as a result of which it is quite difficult to measure small angles.

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Chapter 19 Solutions

Astronomy

Ch. 19 - Parallaxes are measured in fractions of an...Ch. 19 - For centuries, astronomers wondered whether comets...Ch. 19 - The Sun is much closer to Earth than are the...Ch. 19 - Parallaxes of stars are sometimes measured...Ch. 19 - Estimating the luminosity class of an M star is...Ch. 19 - Figure 19.9 is the light curve for the prototype...Ch. 19 - Which of the following can you determine about a...Ch. 19 - A G2 star has a luminosity 100 times that of the...Ch. 19 - A star has a temperature of 10,000 K and a...Ch. 19 - What is the advantage of measuring a parallax...Ch. 19 - What is the disadvantage of the parallax method,...Ch. 19 - Luhman 16 and WISE 0720 are brown dwarfs, also...Ch. 19 - Most stars close to the Sun are red dwarfs. What...Ch. 19 - Why would it be easier to measure the...Ch. 19 - When Henrietta Leavitt discovered the...Ch. 19 - A radar astronomer who is new at the job claims...Ch. 19 - The New Horizons probe flew past Pluto in July...Ch. 19 - Estimate the maximum and minimum time it takes a...Ch. 19 - The Apollo program (not the lunar missions with...Ch. 19 - In 1974, the Arecibo Radio telescope in Puerto...Ch. 19 - Demonstrate that 1 pc equals 3.091013 k m and that...Ch. 19 - The best parallaxes obtained with Hipparcos have...Ch. 19 - Astronomers are always making comparisons between...Ch. 19 - Gaia will have greatly improved precision over the...Ch. 19 - Using the same techniques as used in Exercise...Ch. 19 - The human eye is capable of an angular resolution...Ch. 19 - How much better is the resolution of the Gaia...Ch. 19 - The most recently discovered system close to Earth...Ch. 19 - What would the parallax of Luhman 16 (see Exercise...Ch. 19 - The New Horizons probe that passed by Pluto during...Ch. 19 - What physical properties are different for an M...
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