Trigonometric Parallax: Space: Edexcel A-level Physics

The first video in a series detailing how we measure distances in space and so explore the origins of the Universe. Explaining how nearby star distances are measured using the technique of trigonometric parallax and what the limitations are.
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[@KatherineHowlett]

Very good! From a non-A level person, interested in how trigonometry is used in astronomy

[@dewmithwaranasooriya4342]

If possible pls continue the videos on cosmology. It is really helpful indeed.

[@yasminkhalifa8709]

Thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!! That was so useful!!!!!! Please upload more videos like this!!!!!

[@joana.teneqexhi]

how do we measure the angle tho? the one you divided by two to find the parallax angle

[@nutshellphy]

That’s measured by how the near star has moved against the background. If you think of the sky as 180 degrees you can see where it was and where it is 6 months later.

[@baraali269]

this was very helpful thank u very very much

[@cheri-u1j]

So if the position of pleiades is at the centre,what is present by the two arrows on either sides? Is it the position of the pleiades on august and February??

[@rajanchahar8055]

Nah i think when you measure parallax you have to do it 6 months apart

[@Raihan_Mustakim]

6:10 I did not get this part, how did we get the 1.5° here If, 1 second = (1/3600)° 0.75 seconds = 0.75×(1/3600)° 0.75 seconds = (2.083×10^-4)° Am I right?

[@Perryno1]

he meant 1.5" total between summer and winter equinox

[@sameerahmed2355]

Is it necessary to convert to Au or can we keep them in Km?

[@nutshellphy]

You can keep them but you need to know about AU. And pc.

[@sameerahmed2355]

How long do the rest of the videos take?

[@paulbreckon1708]

There is no parralax in the stars from earth, scientists claimed to have seen parallax from a spaceship that took photos after lining up to 50 other stars. As for finding the distance, size or speed of any bodies in the solar system/galaxy/universe, one would need to know at least the distance and size of at least 2 of said bodies. No one seems to be able to explain how they come up with the first distance of a planet without knowing any other distances.

[@lumin10]

What are you yapping about

[@cyrusparrsi2583]

How do you measure the parallax angle? I watched some of these videos, and no one has mentioned how to measure the angle. Anyone with a high school math knowledge knows how to solve a right triangle, it doesn't need tutorials.

[@nutshellphy]

This is for high school students. Hence the ‘tutorial’.

[@sh_legendsh_legend6754]

Bro got smoked, Don't mess with your friendly neighbourhood scientist!

[@martinwillemse8923]

With the parallax you can measure distances of stars up to 200 light-years away, by measuring the parallax at a distance of 300,000,000 kilometers from each other, which is caused by the rotation of the Earth around the Sun. Where, however, no use is made, it seems that our Solar System is making a circle around the galaxy center at 840,000 kilometers per hour and we now have a parallax after 100 years that can measure 2400 times greater distances, by using old photos of 100 years ago and compared to today's photographs, we can measure distances 2400 times further, to about 500,000 light-years away, which is twice the size of our galaxy and with the better telescopes, we may still measure further distances and we can now theoretically measure the entire galaxy. That's why I'm writing this response to point out to science, to take advantage of this. With the James Webb space telescope we could possibly measure 100 times further and measure the movements of our surrounding galaxies. Met de parallax kan je tot op 200 lichtjaar ver sterren afstanden meten, door op een afstand van 300.000.000 kilometer van elkaar de parallax te meten, die ontstaat door de rotatie van de Aarde om de Zon. Waar echter geen gebruik word gemaakt zo lijkt het, dat ons Zonnestelsel met 840.000 kilometer per uur een rondje om het melkweg centrum maakt en we nu na 100 jaar een parallax hebben die 2400 maal grotere afstanden kan meten, door oude foto,s te gebruiken van 100 jaar geleden en te vergelijken met de foto,s van nu, kunnen we 2400 maal verder de afstanden meten, tot ongeveer 500.000 lichtjaar ver, wat 2 maal zo ver is als ons melkweg stelsel groot is en met de betere telescopen, we mogelijk nog verdere afstanden kunnen meten en we nu theoretisch het hele melkwegstelsel kunnen meten. Daarom schrijf ik deze reactie om de wetenschap er op te wijzen, om hier gebruik van te maken. Met de James Webb ruimte telescoop zouden we zelfs mogelijk 100 maal verder kunnen meten en we de bewegingen van ons omringende melkwegstelsels kunnen meten.

[@danaprppp8390]

so its always going to be tan?

[@nutshellphy]

The calculation of star distance? Yes, because we want the adjacent and we know the opposite.

[@danaprppp8390]

@@nutshellphy yaaa thanks

[@alertalert7928]

i thought 1Au was 150x10^6 not 10^9 ?

[@nutshellphy]

Depends on whether you’re talking metres or km.

[@sumaiyaislam_]

Can I get source of your data?Wanted to write an article actually

[@nutshellphy]

Source of which data? The star stuff? Oh that was from multiple places sourced over a few years, I couldn’t tell you exactly where from at this stage. Sorry. But you can probably find similar data on any decent astronomy page.

[@sumaiyaislam_]

Okay,thank you 💙

[@sumaiyaislam_]

Actually wanted to know about the limitations of trigonometric parallax .100 parsec/1000 parsec?