If the Hipparcos Satellite Measures the Parallax Motion of a Star

question 130

Multiple Choice

If the Hipparcos satellite measures the parallax motion of a star against the background stars and concludes that the star has a parallax of 0.004 arcsec,how far is the star from Earth?

• A) 25 pc, or 81.5 ly
• B) 250 pc, or 815 ly
• C) 400 pc, or 1300 ly
• D) 0.004 pc, or 0.013 ly

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Definitions:

Chronological Age

The actual age of an individual measured in years from the date of birth.

Mental Set

A frame of mind involving an established way of thinking, which can sometimes inhibit the ability to solve new problems.

Hierarchies

A system of organization where entities are ranked one above the other based on their status or authority.

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of physical locations, helping an individual to navigate and understand spatial environments.