Understanding Parallax
Parallax is the apparent shift in the position of a star against the background of distant stars when viewed from two different points in Earth's orbit. The larger the parallax angle, the closer the star.
The Formula
The relationship between parallax (p) in arcseconds and distance (d) in parsecs is:
* d = 1/p
Calculation
1. Parallax (p): 0.769 arcseconds
2. Distance (d): 1 / 0.769 = 1.30 parsecs
Therefore, Proxima Centauri is approximately 1.30 parsecs away from Earth.
