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Parallactic Proper Motion
written by Todd Timberlake
The EJS Parallactic Proper Motion Model illustrates the phenomenon known as parallactic proper motion.  Proper motion refers to the progressive (non-oscillatory) apparent motion of a star relative to more distant background stars. If this apparent motion is due to actual motion of the star through space then it is known as "true proper motion." However, this apparent motion can also be due to the motion of Earth (along with the Sun and the rest of the solar system) through space. This motion is known as "parallactic proper motion." In 1783 William Herschel detected parallactic proper motion in several stars and used these motions to determine that the solar system was moving toward a point called the "Solar Apex" in the constellation Hercules.

The window displays a celestial sphere (blue), the sun (orange), and one star (white). The initial location of the sun is at the center of the sphere.  The sun can be moved in the direction of the Solar Apex by adjusting the Displacement slider. This alters the line of sight from the sun to the star and thus changes the apparent location of the star on the celestial sphere (which is assumed to be infinitely distant). The user can adjust the distance to the star as well as the star's (initial) celestial coordinates. The final celestial coordinates of the star are displayed at the bottom of the window.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).
1 source code document is available
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Astronomy
- Astronomy Education
= Curricula
- Cosmic Time and Distance
= Parallax
- Historical Astronomy
= History of Astronomy
- The Sun
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
= Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- Educators
- General Publics
- application/java
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license.
Keywords:
EJS, Easy Java Simulations, OSP, Open Source Physics, William Herschel, motion of the Sun, parallactic motion, proper motion
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 17, 2011 by Todd Timberlake
Record Updated:
January 11, 2022 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
May 17, 2011
Other Collections:

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
T. Timberlake, Computer Program PARALLACTIC PROPER MOTION, Version 1.0 (2011), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251).
AJP/PRST-PER
T. Timberlake, Computer Program PARALLACTIC PROPER MOTION, Version 1.0 (2011), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251>.
APA Format
Timberlake, T. (2011). Parallactic Proper Motion (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved December 8, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251
Chicago Format
Timberlake, Todd. "Parallactic Proper Motion." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251 (accessed 8 December 2024).
MLA Format
Timberlake, Todd. Parallactic Proper Motion. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2011. Java (JRE) 1.5. 8 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Todd Timberlake", Title = {Parallactic Proper Motion}, Month = {May}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%A Todd Timberlake %T Parallactic Proper Motion %D May 17, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Timberlake, Todd %D May 17, 2011 %T Parallactic Proper Motion %7 1.0 %8 May 17, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11209&DocID=2251


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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

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Parallactic Proper Motion:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the Parallactic Proper Motion.

relation by Wolfgang Christian

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