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jimmy p
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My physics teacher wasnt sure how the parsec was worked out. I know it is about 3.26 l.y. but how did it come about and how was it worked out?
Thanx
JP
Thanx
JP
jimmy p said:My physics teacher wasnt sure how the parsec was worked out. I know it is about 3.26 l.y. but how did it come about and how was it worked out?
Thanx
JP
jimmy p said:but how did it come about and how was it worked out?
Thanx
JP
jimmy p said:...and how was it worked out?...
The parsec was first calculated by the German astronomer Friedrich Bessel in 1838. He used parallax measurements of the star 61 Cygni to determine its distance from Earth, which he then used to calculate the distance of one arcsecond, the unit of measurement for parallax.
A parsec, short for parallax of one arcsecond, is a unit of measurement commonly used in astronomy to express large distances. It is equal to 3.26 light years, or approximately 31 trillion kilometers.
The astronomical unit is a unit of measurement used to express distances within the solar system, while the parsec is used for larger distances in the galaxy. 1 parsec is equal to about 206,265 AU.
The parsec is commonly used in astronomy to measure the distance of stars, galaxies, and other celestial bodies. It is also used in cosmology to measure the size and scale of the universe.
The parsec is a useful unit of measurement because it allows astronomers to express extremely large distances in a more manageable way. It also takes into account the curvature of space, making it a more accurate measurement for larger distances.