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Parallax is the apparent change in postion of an object when looked at from two different places. Astronomers use parallax to find how far away nearby stars are.

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Q: How is a parallax helpful to astronomers?
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How do astronomers measure the distance to nearby stars?

Astronomers use a method called parallax to measure the distance to nearby stars. By observing how a star's position changes when viewed from different points in Earth's orbit around the Sun, astronomers can calculate the star's distance based on the angle of this apparent shift.


What do astronomers use as a baseline in measuring stellar parallax?

Is it Jupiter's orbit, a parsec, the average diameter of the Earth's orbit or a light year? Please choose one of the following.


How do astronomers measure distances to stars including the parallax method?

Astronomers use the parallax method to measure distances to stars by observing how a star's position shifts against distant background stars as Earth orbits around the Sun. By measuring the angle of this shift and knowing the baseline distance between Earth's orbit positions, astronomers can calculate a star's distance using trigonometry. The parallax method is most effective for nearby stars within a few hundred light-years from Earth.


The apparent shift in the position of nearby stars when compared to distant stars is?

called stellar parallax, and it is used to measure the distance to nearby stars. This apparent shift occurs due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which causes our viewpoint to change over time. By measuring the angle of the shift, astronomers can calculate the distance to the star.


Distance to nearby stars can be determined from?

Distance to nearby stars can be determined using the method of trigonometric parallax, which involves measuring the apparent shift in position of a star relative to more distant stars as the Earth orbits the Sun. This shift allows astronomers to calculate the distance to the star based on the angle subtended by the Earth's orbit.