The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780134874364
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Question
Chapter 15, Problem 55EAP
a.
To determine
To Calculate: The distance of star Alpha Centauri in parsecs and light-years using parallax formula.
b.
To determine
To Calculate: The distance of star Procyon in parsecs and light-years using parallax formula.
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On Earth, the parallax angle measured for the star Procyon is 0.29 arcseconds. If you were to measure Procyon's parallax angle from Venus, what would the parallax angle be? (Note: Earth's orbital radius is larger than Venus's orbital
radius.)
A. more than 0.29 arcseconds
O B. 0.29 arcseconds
O C. less than 0.29 arcseconds
D. zero arcseconds (no parallax)
On Earth, the parallax angle measured for the star Procyon is 0.29 arcseconds. If you were to measure Procyon's parallax angle from Venus, what would the parallax angle be? (Note: Earth's orbital radius is larger than Venus's orbital
radius.)
A. more than 0.29 arcseconds
B. 0.29 arcseconds
C. less than 0.29 arcseconds
D.zero arcseconds (no parallax)
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.
D. It takes at least 10 years of observation to measure a star's parallax.
OE. The closer a star is to us, the more parallax it exhibits.
Chapter 15 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
Ch. 15 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 2VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 3VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 4VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 5VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 6VSCCh. 15 - Prob. 1EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 2EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 3EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 4EAP
Ch. 15 - Prob. 5EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 6EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 7EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 8EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 9EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 10EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 11EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 12EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 13EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 14EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 15EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 16EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 17EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 20EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 21EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 22EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 24EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 25EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 26EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 27EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 28EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 29EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 30EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 31EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 32EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 33EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 34EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 35EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 36EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 37EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 40EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 45EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 46EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 47EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 48EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 49EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 50EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 52EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 53EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 54EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 55EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 56EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 57EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 58EAPCh. 15 - Prob. 59EAP
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- Use this interactive simulation of stellar parallax. Change the distance to the star to values given in column 2. Write down the parallax angle in arcsec for each distance. Convert the parallax angle to radians. Calculate the distance. If your calculation is correct, your number in the last column should be similar to the number in column 2 (NOT THE SAME!). 1 AU is 4.85 x 10-6 pc (Don't write units with your answer!) Measured (true) Parallax angle n (in radians) (use 2 significant D (round your answer to 2 figures) Calculated distance Object Parallax angle (in arcsec) Distance from Position "Sun" in pc decimal places) Nearest 0.5 Intermediate 1 Farthest 1.5arrow_forwardStellar parallax is used as a tool to determine distances to stars. Describe how stellar parallax works. Also discuss the limiting factors in its use and the maximum distance that can be accurately measured using this technique. Do you believe this concept is unique to astronomy or used in other technical disciplines? Provide examples.arrow_forwardProblem 5. Imagine that you observe a star field twice, with a six-month gap between your observations, and that you see the two sets of stars shown below. Which do you think is closest to the observer? Figure 1: Schematic of image of stars A,B, and P taken six months apart. Problem 6. Suppose the angular separation between stars A and B is 0.5 arcseconds. How far would you estimate star P to lie from the observer?arrow_forward
- 1. A distant galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 10 and is 4,000 kpc away. What is its absolute magnitude? (Round your answer to at least one decimal place.) The difference in absolute magnitude between two objects viewed from the same distance is related to their fluxes by the flux-magnitude relation. FA/FB= 2.51(MB − MA) 2. How does the absolute magnitude of this galaxy compare to the Milky Way (M = −21)?arrow_forwardWhat is the distance to a star with a parallax angle of 0.5 arcseconds? A. 5 parsecs B. 15 parsecs O C. 2 parsecs D.0.2 parsecs E. none of the abovearrow_forward1. Planet A has an orbital period of 12 years and radius that is 0.033 times the radius of the star. Calculate the fractional dip of the star brightness in the case that planet A is transiting. Give the answer as a number. Quote the formula you use and explain any assumptions you have to make. 2. Planet B has an orbital period of 1 year and is located closer to its star than planet A. You succeed in detecting planet B with the radial velocity technique as well! From this measurement you calculate a minimum mass of planet B to be 75% that of the Earth. (a) Since you detect the planet with both transit method and radial velocity method, what do you know about the inclination of the planetary system? (b) Given this inclination, estimate the true mass of planet B (in units of Earth mass). You do not need to do a detailed calculation, just explain the argument. 3. You also measure the radius of planet B to be the same as Earth, one Earth radius. (a) How does the density of planet B compare…arrow_forward
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