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Old 31-03-2014, 10:16 PM
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ChrisM
Sandy Ridge Observatory

ChrisM is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Gippsland, VIC
Posts: 768
Proxima Centauri motion

The two attached images of Proxima Centauri were taken 363 days apart.

After registering the images in PixInsight, I was able to use PI again to measure (approximately) the movement relative to the background stars. I calculated a change in position of 3.8 arc seconds, which at the known distance of 4.24 LY, equates to an apparent motion of 4.9 AU (if my calcs are correct) - just less than Jupiter's orbital radius. Further calcs would indicate a velocity of about 23 km/sec at right angles to our line of sight.

(You will need to load both images then click from one to the other. Prox Cent should be easily visible to the right and below the centre.)

Chris
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