Which observation would have provided evidence for the heliocentric model?

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Enhance your knowledge for the ASU PHY101 Exam. Prepare with multiple choice questions, flashcards, and explanations. Get exam ready with ease!

The observation of stellar parallax provides compelling evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system. Stellar parallax refers to the apparent shift in the position of a nearby star when viewed from different positions in Earth's orbit around the Sun.

If the heliocentric model is accurate, we would expect to see this shift due to the changing perspective of Earth as it moves along its orbit. The observed parallax would be greater for closer stars and less for those farther away, corroborating the idea that Earth is in motion around the Sun.

In contrast, the geocentric model implies that Earth is stationary at the center of the universe, making stellar parallax difficult to observe or predict. Thus, the existence and measurement of stellar parallax serve as strong evidence supporting the heliocentric viewpoint, establishing that the planets, including Earth, are in orbit around the Sun. This observation was a key factor that helped shift scientific consensus away from the long-held belief in the geocentric model.

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