Final answer:
Triangulation is a method that uses the geometry of triangles to measure distances to stars by comparing observations taken six months apart. Space-based satellites enable larger baselines and more precise measurements. Measuring from distant planets like Jupiter allows for greater or fainter distance measurements due to a larger observational arc.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of triangulation involves using the geometry of triangles to measure distances to distant objects, such as stars. This technique is known as the parallax method. Specifically, by measuring the angle of line of sight to a star at intervals six months apart, and using the known diameter of Earth's orbit as a baseline, astronomers can calculate the distance to stars up to about 500 light-years away. When triangulation is used from a different vantage point, such as the planet Jupiter, it offers a larger baseline and thus the potential to measure greater distances or detect fainter objects due to a longer observational arc.
Space-based satellites provide more precise distance measurements than ground-based methods because they can avoid atmospheric distortions and have a wider range of movement, effectively creating larger baselines for triangulation. For example, by using stars' spectra and variable stars such as cephids, astronomers can establish cosmic distances to galaxies with improved accuracy. Additionally, the baselines used on Earth are not sufficient for astronomical distances, which explains why celestial methods employ larger baselines, such as the size of Earth's orbit.