Parallax - definition
Parallax - definition
Parallax is a phenomenon involving an apparent displacement of the position of an observed object relative to a distant background, caused by a change in the point of observation. This effect is the result of the difference in the angle of view of the object from two different positions and is proportional to the distance between the observation points and inversely proportional to the distance of the object from the observer. Parallax is an important phenomenon in many technical and scientific fields such as astronomy, surveying, precision mechanics and instrumental optics.
In astronomy, trigonometric parallax makes it possible to determine the distance to the nearest stars by measuring the angle of change of their position relative to the distant sky background, observed six months apart when the Earth is on opposite sides of its orbit. In optical instruments such as finderscopes, Microscopes or analogue pointers, the parallax phenomenon can lead to reading errors if the observation is not made exactly on the measuring axis. To minimise errors, designs are being introduced to eliminate parallax, e.g. by using translucent mirrors or calibrating the optics accordingly.
In computer graphics and 3D visualisation, the parallax effect is used to create the illusion of depth by varying the speed of the background and foreground. In display technology and vision systems robotics stereoscopic parallax is used to reconstruct image depth and spatial representation of the environment. In the natural sciences, such as meteorology or oceanography, parallax shifts are used to accurately measure the position of objects in motion.
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