Distance and Parallax

Stars are too far out in the universe to be able to measure with a ruler or a tape measure. These celestial bodies require specialized methods and equations to measure their distances, both from Earth and from each other. In this topic, you will explore parallax, or the way in which an object appears to move differently in relation to the object's observer. In addition, you will learn the equation that scientists use to calculate the distances to stars.

Essential Question

• How do astronomers use parallax to measure the distance of objects in space?