Which of the following statements about stellar parallax is true? A. We observe all stars to exhibit at least a slight amount of parallax. B. Stellar parallax was first observed by ancient Greek astronomers. O C. The amount of parallax we see depends on how fast a star is moving relative to us.

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**Understanding Stellar Parallax:**

**Question:**
Which of the following statements about stellar parallax is true?

**Options:**
- A. We observe all stars to exhibit at least a slight amount of parallax.
- B. Stellar parallax was first observed by ancient Greek astronomers.
- C. The amount of parallax we see depends on how fast a star is moving relative to us.
- D. It takes at least 10 years of observation to measure a star’s parallax.
- E. The closer a star is to us, the more parallax it exhibits.

**Explanation:**
Stellar parallax is a method used by astronomers to determine the distance of nearby stars. It takes advantage of the apparent shift in position of a star when observed from two different points in Earth's orbit around the Sun. The key relationship is that the closer a star is to Earth, the greater the parallax effect. Therefore, the correct statement is:

- **E. The closer a star is to us, the more parallax it exhibits.**

Ancient Greek astronomers theorized about parallax, but they did not have the means to observe it due to its minute scale. The phenomenon requires precise measurements over a shorter duration than decades to be detected accurately. The motion of stars relative to us does not directly affect the amount of parallax observed.
Transcribed Image Text:**Understanding Stellar Parallax:** **Question:** Which of the following statements about stellar parallax is true? **Options:** - A. We observe all stars to exhibit at least a slight amount of parallax. - B. Stellar parallax was first observed by ancient Greek astronomers. - C. The amount of parallax we see depends on how fast a star is moving relative to us. - D. It takes at least 10 years of observation to measure a star’s parallax. - E. The closer a star is to us, the more parallax it exhibits. **Explanation:** Stellar parallax is a method used by astronomers to determine the distance of nearby stars. It takes advantage of the apparent shift in position of a star when observed from two different points in Earth's orbit around the Sun. The key relationship is that the closer a star is to Earth, the greater the parallax effect. Therefore, the correct statement is: - **E. The closer a star is to us, the more parallax it exhibits.** Ancient Greek astronomers theorized about parallax, but they did not have the means to observe it due to its minute scale. The phenomenon requires precise measurements over a shorter duration than decades to be detected accurately. The motion of stars relative to us does not directly affect the amount of parallax observed.
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