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Astronomers measure parallax by using a large base. Often, the base is 186,000,000 miles long, the distance between two positions of the Earth six months apart. When looking at a star field using these two relative positions, it is possible to see some of the stars being in a different position relative to other more distant stars. This is parallax and it allows us to estimate the distance to that particular star using trigonometry.

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13y ago
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11y ago

No, not really.

Parallax only works for fairly close stars, and requires some fairly precise work even then. It's certainly possible for amateurs to do, but most probably couldn't or aren't really all that interested in re-proving what's been known for decades if not centuries.

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Q: How do astronomers easily measure parallax?
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Related questions

What is used when astronomers measure the distance from the sun to the earth?

Parallax is the method that astronomers use to measure the distance from the sun to the earth.


Why would astronomers measure the parallax angle of a planet or star?

It's distance


How do astronomers measure the distance to nearby stars?

Astronomers use a method called parallax to measure the distance to nearby stars. Astronomers can measure parallax by measuring the position of a nearby star with respect to the distant stars behind it. Then, they measure the same stars again six months later when the Earth is on the opposite side of its orbit.


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

They use the banana method


How is a parallax helpful to astronomers?

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.


The method astronomers use to measure the distance to stars that are less than 1000 light years from earth?

The method called "parallax.


Why do we measure the movement of stars?

Parallax is the apparent change in position of an object when you look at it from different angles. Astronomers often us parallax to measure distances to nearby stars. This method can be used to determine stars' distances up to 400 light-years from Earth.


What measures star distance from the Earth?

Stellar Parallax Astronomers estimate the distance of nearby objects in space by using a method called stellar parallax, or trigonometric parallax. Simply put, they measure a star's apparent movement against the background of more distant stars as Earth revolves around the sun.


Parallax would be easier to measure if?

Parallax would be easier to measure if the Earth were farther from the sun. This way, there will be a wider angle to the stars using the parallax method.


What are the distances to stars measured in?

Astronomers typically measure distances in parsecs. One parsec is the distance of a hypothetical star having a parallax of 1 second of arc; it's about 3.2 light years.


Method to measure the distance to nearby stars directly?

For nearby stars, the parallax method gives the most accurate measure of distances.For nearby stars, the parallax method gives the most accurate measure of distances.For nearby stars, the parallax method gives the most accurate measure of distances.For nearby stars, the parallax method gives the most accurate measure of distances.


What is a parallax bar used for?

Parallax bars are used in photogrammetry and remote sensing. with the use of the principles of parallax and refraction, parallax bars are used to measure the heights of buildings and other features.