PROXIMA CENTURI , PROXIMA a AND PROXIMA b

[ASUTOSHJHA]

How to measure distance from earth to proxima centuri

 

 

Impression of Planet Proxima Centauri with New the stars, Centauri a and Centauri B - Information about  Proxima Centauri .

[tater]

It is close enough that you can do a parallax measurement. Observe the star, wait 6 months, then observe it again vs the distant background stars.

You now have 2 measurements ~2 AU apart.

The distance to the target star is D = 1/p

Where D is distance in parsecs, and p is the parallax angle in arcseconds.

(in case it is not clear, you will measure 2p, so you will need to divide that by 2)

[cubinator]

The Alpha Centauri system is close enough that you can use parallax. Take a good picture of the star through a telescope, then wait six months and take another picture. Then you will have a baseline of roughly 2 AU as the Earth moved around the Sun.

If you can measure the angle difference across the sky of 0.78 arcseconds, you will see how it has moved and be able to deduce its distance. It's about 1/3 of the size of Neptune in the sky.

Edited July 28, 2021 by cubinator