annual parallax
- noun
- /ˈæn.ju.əl ˈpær.ə.læks/
- Specialized
:
paralaje anual
- The annual parallax of a star helps astronomers measure its distance from Earth.
Examples
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The annual parallax of nearby stars helps astronomers calculate their distances.
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Using annual parallax, scientists can measure the distance to stars accurately.
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By observing the annual parallax, scientists determined the vast distance to Alpha Centauri.
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Modern telescopes can measure the annual parallax of even very distant stars.
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By measuring the annual parallax, astronomers can calculate how far a star is from Earth.
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The annual parallax observed from Earth's two positions around the Sun provides crucial data for distance determination.
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Scientists use the annual parallax of nearby stars to understand the scale of our galaxy.
Synonyms
4
9.5
A change in where something looks when you see it from two places, for example the moon
A small shift in a star's position seen when Earth is at different places around the sun to measure distance
The small change in a star's position when Earth moves that shows how far it is
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'annual' (yearly) simply specifies the temporal basis of the 'parallax' (apparent displacement), so a learner who understands both words can infer this is the parallax measured over a year. This modifier+noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, making the overall meaning predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Annual parallax comes from a simple yearly view: as Earth moves around the Sun, a nearby star seems to shift a little against the far stars, like a tree that looks different when you stand on opposite sides of a road. That small yearly shift is what astronomers use to find a star's 'distance' from Earth.