Answer to Question #50699 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Nikhil

Question

1.
a) Express the distance of the star Proxima Centauri from the star Sirius B and the planet
Earth in light years.

b) Draw the celestial sphere and show the observer’s meridian, zenith, celestial equator and
the horizon for an observer at latitude 30°N. Show the horizon coordinates of a star X on
the celestial sphere for this observer. Would these coordinates be the same at latitude 60°
N?

c) Which telescope, optical or X-ray, would have higher resolving power for the same
aperture? Calculate the magnitude of the faintest object that a 20 m optical telescope can
detect.

d) The average temperature of the interior of a sun-like star is of the order 108 K. Estimate
the mass of the star in terms of the solar mass if it has a radius of order 1010 cm.