Standard Candles
calculate relative distances.
Credit: Wikimedia (user Bangin)
Distance
calculate relative distances.
Credit: Wikimedia (user Bangin)
Parallax Measurements
Credit: The Schools' Observatory
Parallax is one of the most important distance measurement methods used by astronomers. It can only be used for nearby stars, but it is very accurate.
Reasons to Measure Distances
Credit: Mouser,
belt highlighted by The Schools' Observatory
Measuring distances in astronomy is difficult but crucial.
Measuring Distances
Credit: The Schools' Observatory
Knowing the distance to objects in space is important. It is also very hard - you can't just use a ruler!
Astronomers over hundreds of years have worked out new ways to measure the distance to stars and galaxies.
Light-Year
Credit: Mandy Bailey and Wikimedia
The light-year is a way of measuring distance - and not time as you might think from the name. One light-year is equal to the distance that light travels in one year.
