Question

Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, has a parallax angle of approximately 0.13 arcseconds when viewed at 2 different times six months apart. Approximately how far away is Vega from the Sun?

A. 0.77 light years
B. 2.5 light years
C. 7.7 light years
D. 25 light years

Answer 1

Vega is approximately 25 light years away from the Sun, calculated by using its parallax angle of 0.13 arcseconds and converting the resulting parsec distance to light years.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distance from the Sun to Vega can be calculated using the parallax angle given as 0.13 arcseconds. One parsec is equivalent to 3.26 light years and corresponds to a parallax angle of 1 arcsecond. Therefore, to find the distance in parsecs, we use the formula distance in parsecs = 1 / parallax angle in arcseconds. Plugging in Vega's parallax, we get distance in parsecs = 1 / 0.13, which is approximately 7.69 parsecs. Converting this distance into light years, Vega is roughly 25.07 light years away from the Sun (7.69 parsecs * 3.26 light years/parsec).

Given this calculation, the correct answer to the student's question, "Approximately how far away is Vega from the Sun?" would be D. 25 light years.