Preliminary research questions a. Proxima Centauri is the closest star that lies 4.3 light years away from the Earth. What is the distance from Earth to Proxima Centauri?

b. If the light emitted by Proxima Centauri takes more than four years to reach Earth, how are we able to see the star instantly when we point our telescope towards it?

c. Chinese astronomers in 185 B. C. recorded a supernova explosion. The supernova was located 9100 light years away from Earth. When did the actual explosion take place? (State the date in B. C.)