On May 9, 2018, the planet Jupiter had an angular diameter of 43.8 arcseconds as viewed from Earth. Which of the following is a correct statement about this angular diameter?
A)This value is constant. Jupiter always has that angular diameter when viewed from Earth.
B)This value changes. The angular diameter gets larger as the distance to Jupiter becomes larger, and smaller as the distance to Jupiter becomes smaller.
C)This value changes. The angular diameter gets larger as the distance to Jupiter becomes smaller, and smaller as the distance to Jupiter becomes larger.
D)This value changes. It is always larger during that part of Saturn's orbit when Jupiter is closer to the Sun, and it is smaller when Jupiter is farther from the Sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angular diameter of a celestial object, such as Jupiter, changes based on its distance from the observer. When Jupiter is closer to Earth, its angular diameter appears larger, and when it is farther away, its angular diameter appears smaller. This is due to the basic principles of geometry and optics.

On May 9, 2018, the Planet Jupiter Had an Angular