Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1993
Department 1
Physics
Abstract
Small telescopes equipped with charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging cameras are well suited to introductory laboratory exercises in positional astronomy (astrometry). An elegant example is the determination of the parallax of extraterrestrial objects, such as asteroids. For laboratory exercises suitable for introductory students, the astronomical hardware needs are relatively modest, and under the best circumstances, the analysis requires little more than arithmetic and a microcomputer with image display capabilities. Results from the first such coordinated parallax observations of asteroids ever made are presented. In addition, procedures for several related experiments, involving single-site observations and/or parallaxes of earth-orbiting artificial satellites, are outlined.
Copyright Note
This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
DOI
10.1119/1.17292
Recommended Citation
Ratcliff, S.J., et al. The Measurement of Astronomical Parallaxes With CCD Imaging Cameras on Small Telescopes. American Journal of Physics 61(3):208-216.
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version is available from the publisher at: http://ajp.aapt.org/