How can the diameter of the sun be determined?

1 Answer
Mar 23, 2016

From the angular spacing of the right-above-head solar disc and the distance of the Sun.

Explanation:

If the angular spacing is alpha and the distance of the observer from the Sun is 1 AU -6378 km=149597871-6378 = 149591493 km,

the diameter = 2 X 149591493 X tan (alpha/2) km-

The compatible data are alpha = 0.5334^o and 5-sd diameter = 1392600 km.

The precision depends on the precision in alpha. It is just 4-sd approximation for alpha.So, answer is reliable up to 4 or 5 sd only.