Henderson

Definition

Henderson is a method used to measure parallax angles for determining celestial distances. It involves precise observations of star positions from different points in Earth's orbit.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Henderson's method is fundamental for calculating the distance to nearby stars.
2. It measures the apparent shift in a star's position due to Earth's movement around the Sun.
3. The method relies on observing a star at two opposite points in Earth's orbit, six months apart.
4. Parallax angles measured by Henderson's method are usually very small, requiring high precision instruments.
5. This technique provided some of the earliest accurate measurements of stellar distances.

Review Questions

• What does Henderson's method measure?
• How many observation points are needed in Earth's orbit for Henderson's method?
• Why are high precision instruments necessary for Henderson's method?

Related terms

Parallax: The apparent shift in position of a nearby star against the background of more distant objects due to Earth's orbit.

Stellar Distance: The measurement of how far away a star is from Earth.

Baseline: The distance between two observational points used in parallax measurement, typically the diameter of Earth's orbit.