Near and far: stellar parallax
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Near and far: stellar parallax

Turn the wheel: Alpha Centauri shifts farther.

Near Alpha Centauri, pan with two fingers or the middle mouse button: nearby stars shift more than distant stars, changing the constellation’s shape.

Why explore it?

For the same observer displacement, a nearby star changes direction more. This is parallax; real annual measurements use Earth’s much smaller displacement around the Sun.