1.

The principle of ‘parallax’ in section 2.3.1 is usedin the determination of distances of very distant stars. The baselineAB is the line joining the Earth’s two locations sixmonths apart in its orbit around the Sun. That is, the baseline isabout the diameter of the Earth’s orbit ≈ 3 ×1011m. However, even the nearest stars are so distant thatwith such a long baseline, they show parallax only of the order of 1”(second) of arc or so. A parsec is a convenient unit of lengthon the astronomical scale. It is the distance of an object that willshow a parallax of 1” (second) of arc from opposite ends of abaseline equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun. How much isa parsec in terms of meters?

Answer»

The principle of ‘parallax’ in section 2.3.1 is used
in the determination of distances of very distant stars. The baseline
AB is the line joining the Earth’s two locations six
months apart in its orbit around the Sun. That is, the baseline is
about the diameter of the Earth’s orbit ≈ 3 ×
1011m. However, even the nearest stars are so distant that
with such a long baseline, they show parallax only of the order of 1”
(second) of arc or so. A parsec is a convenient unit of length
on the astronomical scale. It is the distance of an object that will
show a parallax of 1” (second) of arc from opposite ends of a
baseline equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun. How much is
a parsec in terms of meters?


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