Related papers: The Distance to Pleiades
Computing the Fr\'{e}chet distance for surfaces is a surprisingly hard problem and the only known algorithm is limited to computing it between flat surfaces. We adapt this algorithm to create one for computing the Fr\'{e}chet distance for a…
We analyse the Bell paradox from the point of view of an inertial referential frame and from the one of an accelerated frame. We calculate the distance between the two accelerated spaceships as it appears in each referential and we show…
The study of asteroids, its composition and trajectories, has been a persistent interest in the space exploration community. In addition, they are also perceived as a great threat to life on Earth, considering the possibility of an impact…
We present a new extensive analysis of the old problem of finding a satisfactory calibration of the relation between the geometric albedo and some measurable polarization properties of the asteroids. To achieve our goals, we use all…
Let P_1 and P_2 be two sets of points in the plane, so that P_1 is contained in a line L_1, P_2 is contained in a line L_2, and L_1 and L_2 are neither parallel nor orthogonal. Then the number of distinct distances determined by the pairs…
Astronomical polarimetry is a powerful technique that can provide physical information sometimes difficult or impossible to obtain by any other type of observation. Almost every class of binary star can benefit from polarimetric…
I present a brief summary of three different types of binary star - astrometric, spectroscopic and eclipsing - and tabulate the properties of these systems that can be determined directly from observations. Eclipsing binary stars are the…
The computation of the Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) is an old, but increasingly relevant problem. Fast and precise methods for MOID computation are needed to select potentially hazardous asteroids from a large catalogue. The…
Let (P) denote the problem of existence of a point in the plane of a given triangle T, that is at rational distance from all the vertices of T. In this article, we provide a complete solution to (P) for all equilateral triangles.
Parallax data from the Hipparcos mission allow the direct distance to open clusters to be compared with the distance inferred from main sequence (MS) fitting. There are surprising differences between the two distance measurements, which…
This is a (very) personal attempt to summarize the status of neutrino astronomy: its scientific motivations, our understanding of natural water and ice as particle detectors and, finally, the detector technology.
We give an overview of different approaches to measuring the similarity of, or the distance between, two graphs, highlighting connections between these approaches. We also discuss the complexity of computing the distances.
We reconsider calibration of statistical distance scales for planetary nebulae, examining precision and systematic error for various distance methods used as well as the scales themselves. A different calibration strategy, one based on…
Russell (1948) famously described eclipses as the "royal road" to stellar astrophysics. From photometric and spectroscopic observations it is possible to measure the masses and radii (to 1% or better!), and thus surface gravities and mean…
This article seeks to encourage a mathematical dialog regarding a possible solution to Beals Conjecture. It breaks down one of the worlds most difficult math problems into laymans terms and encourages people to question some of the most…
Observing artificial satellites is a relatively new and unique branch of astronomy that is very interesting and dynamic. One specific aspect of observing these objects is that although they appear amongst the celestial background, as…
We significantly constrain the sky position, distance, and mass of a possible additional, distant planet in the solar system by examining its influence on the distance between Earth and the Cassini Spacecraft. Our preferred region is…
In this paper we investigate the Erd\"os/Falconer distance conjecture for a natural class of sets statistically, though not necessarily arithmetically, similar to a lattice. We prove a good upper bound for spherical means that have been…
We study the computational complexity of determining the Hausdorff distance of two polytopes given in halfspace- or vertex-presentation in arbitrary dimension. Subsequently, a matching problem is investigated where a convex body is allowed…
For millenia, sailors have used the empirical rule that the elevation angle of Polaris, the North Star, as measured by sextant, quadrant or astrolabe, is approximately equal to latitude. Here, we show using elementary trigonometry that…