Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781305960961
Author: Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 8, Problem 1RQ
To determine

Why Earth-based parallax measurements are limited to the nearest star?

Expert Solution & Answer
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Answer to Problem 1RQ

Earth-based parallax system is limited to nearest stars because earth atmosphere smears stars images which makes difficult to measure the parallax from earth.

Explanation of Solution

Measurement of parallax is a very difficult task because stars at a larger distance makea very small angle.

When we measure the parallax angle from Earth even from a very good observatory, the earth atmosphere smears the images of the star and makes the diameter of the star around 1 arc second, which makes it difficult to measure the parallax from Earth.

That is why Earth parallax system is limited to the nearest star.

Conclusion:

Because earth atmosphere smears stars images which makes difficult to measure the parallax from earth

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