1. the apparent displacement of an object caused by a change in observational position that provides a new line of sight
Usage: astronomy; physics
2. the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object
Usage: technical

Examples

• Astronomers use parallax to measure the distance to nearby stars.
• The parallax effect makes objects appear to move when you close one eye and then the other.
• Stellar parallax was first successfully measured in the 19th century.
• The photographer adjusted for parallax when using the viewfinder.
• Parallax error can affect the accuracy of measurements in scientific instruments.
• The closer the object, the greater the parallax shift observed.