Which Nova Happened First in Relation to an Aircraft's Speed?

AI Thread Summary
Astronomers on Earth observe two novas flaring up simultaneously, one in Draco and the other in Tucana, both 1,000 light-years away. However, astronomers aboard an aircraft traveling at 750 km/hr perceive the novas as occurring at different times due to relativistic effects. The calculations involve using the time dilation equation, but the poster encounters an error, resulting in a time difference of 12.16 hours, which they believe is incorrect. They seek clarification on their calculations and plan to consult their professor for further insight. The discussion highlights the complexities of relativistic time perception in different reference frames.
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Homework Statement


Astronomers on the Earth (regarded as an inertial reference frame) see two novas flare up simultaneously. One of the novas is at a distance of 1.0x10^3 lightyears in the constelation Draco; the other nova is at an equal distance in the constellation Tucana in a direction (as seen from Earth) exactly opposite to that of the first nova. According to astronomers aboard an aircraft traveling at 750km/hr along the line from draco to tucana, the novas are not simulatneous. According to these astronomers, which nova happened first/ by how many hours?

Homework Equations



t' = \frac{t - \frac{Vx}{c^2}}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{V^2}{c^2}}}

The Attempt at a Solution


So, i then have two equations:

t'_{1} = \frac{t_{1} - \frac{Vx_{1}}{c^2}}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{V^2}{c^2}}}

t'_{2} = \frac{t_{2} - \frac{Vx_{2}}{c^2}}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{V^2}{c^2}}}

i know that:
t1 = t2
since the novas flare up at the same time on Earth, and i also set
x1 = 0,
x2 = 2*10^3 lightyears = 2(9.46*10^18m)
V = 750*10^3m/hr

my final equatin looks like so:

\frac{t'_{2} - t'_{1} = \frac{Vx_{2}}{c^{2}}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{V^{2}}{c^{2}}}}
(The above fraction looks wrong. the fraction should only be on the right side.)

So, plugging in all of my values i get a time of 12.16hrs, which is double the right answer. Can someone please tell me what I could have done wrong? any help at all would be greatly appreciated
 
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I agree with your answer. So unless we both made the same mistake, the book is wrong.
 
Thank you Doc Al, i appreciate the response. I will ask my professor what he thinks of the problem
 
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