How do the astronomers get to know that there are stars like -Proxima and Alpha Centauris- nbsp- in the universe - nbsp- Have the satellites gone that far- Is it the same with the Andromeda Galaxy-

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Standard IX

Physics

Sun

How do the as...

Question

How do the astronomers get to know that there are stars like 'Proxima and Alpha Centauris' in the universe ?? Have the satellites gone that far?? Is it the same with the Andromeda Galaxy??

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Solution

Dear Student , $T h e s u n' s c l o s e s t s t e l l a r n e i g h b o r s a r e t h r e e s t a r s i n t h e A l p h a C e n t a u r i s y s t e m . T h e t w o m a i n s t a r s a r e A l p h a C e n t a u r i A a n d A l p h a C e n t a u r i B, w h i c h f o r m a b i n a r y p a i r . T h e y a r e a n a v e r a g e o f 4.3 l i g h t - y e a r s f r o m E a r t h . T h e t h i r d s t a r i s P r o x i m a C e n t a u r i . I t i s a b o u t 4.22 l i g h t - y e a r s f r o m E a r t h a n d i s t h e c l o s e s t s t a r o t h e r t h a n t h e s u n . A l p h a C e n t a u r i A a n d B o r b i t a c o m m o n c e n t e r o f g r a v i t y e v e r y 80 y e a r s . T h e a v e r a g e d i s \tan c e b e t w e e n t h e m i s a b o u t 11 a s t r o n o m i c a l u n i t s (A U) — a b o u t t h e s a m e d i s \tan c e a s t h e s u n i s t o U r a n u s . P r o x i m a C e n t a u r i i s a b o u t o n e - f i f t h o f a l i g h t - y e a r o r 13, 000 A U s f r o m t h e t w o o t h e r s t a r s, a d i s \tan c e t h a t m a k e s s o m e a s t r o n o m e r s q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r i t s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d p a r t o f t h e s a m e s y s t e m . P r o x i m a C e n t a u r i m a y b e p a s \sin g t h r o u g h t h e s y s t e m a n d w i l l l e a v e t h e v i c i n i t y i n s e v e r a l m i l l i o n y e a r s, o r i t m a y b e g r a v i t a t i o n a l l y b o u n d t o t h e b i n a r y p a i r . I f i t' s b o u n d, i t h a s a n o r b i t a l p e r i o d a r o u n d t h e o t h e r t w o o f a b o u t 500, 000 y e a r s .$

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