Answer to Question #55241 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Lia

Question

What is parallax and why is it important to the heliocentric model?

Answer 1

Parallax is the variation in angle between an object that is viewed from the Earth at different times. Parallax is important to the heliocentric model because according to the model, not every star is equidistant from Earth.

The change in the parallax angle would indicate variable distances (the greater the angle, the closer the object). The parallax angle for stars cannot be viewed by the unaided eye. The telescope made it possible to measure this previously unseen angle or change.