Understanding Right Angle Triangles in Astronomy

These flashcards cover key concepts related to right angle triangles and their application in measuring star movements and velocities in astronomy.

Parallax

The apparent displacement of an object due to a change in the observer's position.

Transverse Velocity

The component of a star's velocity that is perpendicular to the line of sight from the observer.

Radial Velocity

The component of a star's velocity that is along the line of sight from the observer.

Parsec

A unit of distance used in astronomy, equal to about 3.26 light-years.

Doppler Shift

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer who is moving relative to the wave source.

Pythagorean Theorem

A mathematical principle stating that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a² + b² = c²).