An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics · Problem 1.8

Celestial Mechanics — Carroll & Ostlie

Physics — Astrophysics · angular-separation-proper-motion

Problem

Proxima Centauri (α\alpha Centauri C) is the closest star to the Sun and is a part of a triple star system. It has the epoch J2000.0 coordinates (α,δ)=(14h29m42.95s, −62∘40′46.1′′)(\alpha, \delta) = (14^\mathrm{h}29^\mathrm{m}42.95^\mathrm{s},\, -62^\circ40'46.1''). The brightest member of the system, Alpha Centauri (α\alpha Centauri A) has J2000.0 coordinates of (α,δ)=(14h39m36.50s, −60∘50′02.3′′)(\alpha, \delta) = (14^\mathrm{h}39^\mathrm{m}36.50^\mathrm{s},\, -60^\circ50'02.3''). (a) What is the angular separation of Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri? (b) If the distance to Proxima Centauri is 4.0×10164.0 \times 10^{16} m, how far is the star from Alpha Centauri?

Related theory

Browse the problem library