Explain how parallax measurements can be used to determine distances to stars. Why can we not make accurate measurements of parallax beyond a certain distance?
Suppose you have discovered a new cepheid variable star. What steps would you take to determine its distance?
Explain how you would use the spectrum of a star to estimate its distance.
Which method would you use to obtain the distance to each of the following?
An asteroid crossing Earth’s orbit
Which method would you use to obtain the distance to each of the following?
A star astronomers believe to be no more than 50 light-years from the Sun
Which method would you use to obtain the distance to each of the following?
A tight group of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy that includes a significant number of variable stars
Which method would you use to obtain the distance to each of the following?
A star that is not variable but for which you can obtain a clearly defined spectrum
What are the luminosity class and spectral type of a star with an effective temperature of 5000 K and a luminosity of 100LSun?