1. Inhabitants of a planet orbiting Sirius, the Dog Star, are observing the near
ID: 153716 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Inhabitants of a planet orbiting Sirius, the Dog Star, are observing the nearby star Sol for evidence of planets which might be inhabited by hostile alien civilizations. The planets themselves could not be observed directly; the Sirians are looking for the motion of the star about its common center of mass with a planet. Calculate the full side-to-side angular displacement of Sol the Sirians would have to be able to observe to detect a) Jupiter and b) Earth. Look up any data you need, and be sure to specify the data you use.Explanation / Answer
a) The distance between Sirius and Jupiter - 8.136169398x 1011
Can be obtained by the parallax method
As parallax angle of sirius with Jupiter is 1.229079621 x 1012
parallax angle p = 1/ d
d - distance
To find the angular distacement the forumla is = S/R
S = distance
R= radius of the star (1.19 million km)
= 8.1361694 x 1013 / 1.190000 (in km)
= 6.837117143 x 1013 rad
b) Distance from sirius from earth = 8.6 light year
=s/r
= 8.1362282 x 1013 / 1.190000 (in km)
= 6.837166 x 1013 rad
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