General Astronomy -
Spring 2014
Homework #2 - due February 3
Name __________________________
1. (2 pt) The European Hipparcos satellite made the best
stellar parallax measurements to date and could reach an accuracy of
about 1 milliarcsecond. How distant is the farthest star for
which Hipparcos could measure a distance?
2. (2 pt) Measure and record the distance from your eye to
your thumb with your arm extended and the width of your thumb.
Calculate the angular size of your thumb as seen from your eye with
your arm extended.
3. (1 pt) In terms of flux, how much dimmer is a 6th magnitude star
compared with a 1st magnitude star?
4. (2 pt) In terms of flux, how much dimmer is a star with absolute
magnitude = 6 compared with a star with absolute
magnitude = 1 that is 10 times farther away?
5. (1 pt) A scientific theory must
A) provide a full description of a phenomena and not focus on only a
few aspects
B) use mathematics to relate different variables
C) be invented by a professional scientist
D) make predictions about future observations that can be confirmed
or falsified