Parallax

If a star has a parallax angle of 1 arcseconds, how far away from Earth is it in lightyears?

• 3.26

• 1

If a star has a parallax angle of 1 arcseconds, how far away from Earth is it in parsecs?

• 3.26

• 1

An arcsecond of parallax is know as a ________.

• 1 light-year

• 1 parsec

Which of the following stars is closest to us?

• Procyon (parallax angle = 0.29")

• Ross 780 (parallax angle = 0.21")

• Regulus (parallax angle = 0.04")

• Sirius (parallax angle = 0.38")

Consider two stars (X and Y). If Star X is 3 parsecs away and Star Y is 5 Parsecs away, which has the greater parallax angle?

• Star X

• Star Y

• Not enough information

• The angle would be the same

With greater distance, the parallax angle

• increases

• decreases

• stays the same

• doesn't change

Below are two star photos taken six months apart and laid on top of one another so the background stars (circles) line up. There are two nearby stars also shown. Which of these stars is closer?

• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The shift in position or angle of apparent change.

• parallax

• arcsecond

• parsec

Position E

• baseline

• parallax

• parsec

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What is the parallax method primarily used for in astronomy?

• Measuring the brightness of stars

• Determining the distance to nearby stars

• Calculating the mass of planets

• Identifying the chemical composition of stars