Astronomy quiz question: parallax of Tycho's supernova

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, Spring Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[4.0 points.] Tycho could not observe any parallax for a new star (a supernova) in 1572, proving that:
(A) the heavens cannot be perfect and unchanging.
(B) Earth cannot be the center of motion in the universe.
(C) retrograde motion is caused by planets in different orbits around the sun.
(D) the sun cannot be the center of motion in the universe.

Section 30674
(A) : 13 students
(B) : 19 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 1 student

Correct answer: (A)

Since there was no apparent parallax for the supernova, it was deemed to be located out way past the earthly sphere, in the heavens, which no longer could be though of as static in nature.

"Difficulty level": 38% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.64