Stellar Parallax Flashcards
1
Q
What is Parallax?
A
The effect whereby the position or direction of an object appears to differ when viewed from different positions or through different things. (i.e.: through water, through the lens of a camera, out into space)
2
Q
Why is Parallax important in Star Observation?
A
Because of Parallax we can’t see very distant things as exactly where they are.
3
Q
What is the Formula for Parallax?
A
d=1/p (p is the parallax angle of a star in arcseconds, d is the distance to a star in parsecs)
