If the ancient Greeks had measured stellar parallax, they would have known that their belief in an
Earth-centered universe was wrong. Why didn't the ancient Greeks measure stellar parallax? -
answer✔Even for the nearest stars, parallax angles are too small to measure with the naked eye.
Based on their inability to detect stellar parallax, the ancient Greeks concluded that: -
answer✔Either Earth is the center of the universe or stars are extremely far away
Moreover, as the Parallax Angle animation shows, these measurements allow us to calculate
distances to these relatively nearby stars. If we hope to use parallax to measure distances to even
more-distant stars, which of the following telescopes would be most useful? - answer✔A
telescope that orbits the Sun in the outer solar system
Before we can use parallax to measure the distance to a nearby star, we first need to know: -
answer✔The Earth-Sun distance
Which of the following is a valid way of demonstrating parallax for yourself? - answer✔Hold up
your hand in front of your face, and alternately close your left and right eyes.
What is the cause of stellar parallax? - answer✔Earth's orbit around the Sun.
The more distant a star, the: - answer✔Smaller its parallax angle
Approximately what is the parallax angle of a star that is 20 light-years away? - answer✔0.16
arcsecond
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sirjoel. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
