Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781305960961
Author: Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Question
Chapter 2, Problem 1P
To determine
The difference in magnitudes of two stars.
Expert Solution & Answer
Trending nowThis is a popular solution!
Students have asked these similar questions
In the parallax method of determining stellar distances, the angle to a star is measured while
the earth is on one side of the sun and then again six months later, as in the diagram below.
Assume the earth-sun distance is 1 Astronomical Unit. The parallax angle of Alpha Centauri
is 0= 2.1 x 10-4 ° . Find the distance from the sun to a Centauri in light years. Assume a
circular orbit for the Earth.
a Centauri
Earth (June)
Earth (December)
Sun
If we view a star now, and then view it again 6 months later, our position will have changed by the diameter of the Earth's orbit around the sun. For nearby stars (within 100 light-years or so), the change in viewing location is sufficient to make the star appear to be in a slightly different location in the sky. Half of the angle from one location to the next is known as the parallax angle (see figure). Parallax can be used to measure the distance to the star. An approximate relationship is given by
d =
3.26
p
,
where d is the distance in light-years, and p is the parallax measured in seconds of arc. Vega is a star that has a parallax angle of 0.13 second. How far is Vega from the sun? Note: Parallax is used not only to measure stellar distances. Our binocular vision actually provides the brain with a parallax angle that it uses to estimate distances to objects we see. (Round your answer to two decimal places.) light-years
Consider two identical stars, A and B. Star B is 10 times farther away than star A. What is the differencein magnitudes between the two stars?
Chapter 2 Solutions
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 2 - Why have astronomers added modern constellations...Ch. 2 - What is the difference between asterism d a...Ch. 2 - What characteristic do starts in a constellation...Ch. 2 - Do people from other cultures on Earth see the...Ch. 2 - Prob. 5RQCh. 2 - Prob. 6RQCh. 2 - What does the word apparent mean in apparent...Ch. 2 - In what ways is the celestial sphere a scientific...Ch. 2 - Why do astronomers use the word on to describe...Ch. 2 - Earth did not rotate, could you define the...
Ch. 2 - Where would you go on Earth if you wanted to be...Ch. 2 - Prob. 12RQCh. 2 - Explain h to make a simple astronomical...Ch. 2 - 14. Why does the number of circumpolar...Ch. 2 - How could you detect Earths precession t examining...Ch. 2 - How Do We know? How can a scientific model be...Ch. 2 - Using stars from one or more of the “official”...Ch. 2 - Prob. 2DQCh. 2 - Prob. 1PCh. 2 - If two stars differ by 8.6 magnitudes, what is...Ch. 2 - Prob. 3PCh. 2 - By what factor is sunlight brighter than...Ch. 2 - If you are at a latitude of 35° north of Earths...Ch. 2 - Prob. 1LTLCh. 2 - Prob. 2LTL
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Do stars that look brighter in the sky have larger or smaller magnitudes than fainter stars?arrow_forwardAs seen from Earth, the Sun has an apparent magnitude of about 26.7 . What is the apparent magnitude of the Sun as seen from Saturn, about 10 AU away? (Remember that one AU is the distance from Earth to the Sun and that the brightness decreases as the inverse square of the distance.) Would the Sun still be the brightest star in the sky?arrow_forwardStar A and Star B have different apparent brightnesses but identical luminosities. If Star A is 20 light-years away from Earth and Star B is 40 light-years away from Earth, which star appears brighter and by what factor?arrow_forward
- Explain the origin of the magnitude designation for determining the brightness of stars. Why does it seem to go backward, with smaller numbers indicating brighter stars?arrow_forwardUrsa Minor contains the pole star, Polaris, and the asterism known as the Little Dipper. From most locations in the Northern Hemisphere, all of the stars in Ursa Minor are circumpolar. Does that mean these stars are also above the horizon during the day? Explain.arrow_forwardConsider two identical stars, A and B. Star B is 10 times farther away than star A. What is the difference in magnitudes between the two stars?arrow_forward
- I need the answer as soon as possiblearrow_forwardAs we read in the book, a star that appears to be 1 magnitude brighter will have approximately 2.5 times as much flux hitting an observer's detector/telescope/eye (i.e. a star with an apparent magnitude of 4 has approximately 2.5 times more flux hitting the detector as a star with an apparent magnitude of 5). With this in mind what is the approximate ratio of the flux hitting the a detector for a star with an apparent magnitude of 3 compared to a star with an apparent magnitude of 7? (hint: remember that magnitudes follow a logarithmic scale, not a linear one)arrow_forwardWhich of the following is least reasonable regarding the magnitude scale: Group of answer choices The numerical difference between a star's absolute and apparent magnitudes is a measure of the distance to the star. If the Sun were moved to a distance of 10 parsecs, its apparent magnitude would be about 4.8 and it would therefore not be visible to the naked eye. The fact that Sun's absolute magnitude of 4.8 is greater than the Sun's apparent magnitude of -27 implies that the Sun is a lot closer than 10 parsecs. Apparent magnitude measures a star's apparent brightness when viewed at the star's actual distance from the observer. A star's absolute magnitude is its apparent magnitude when viewed from a distance of 10 parsecs.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStax
An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
An Introduction to Physical Science
Physics
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:Cengage Learning