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← HistoryWhat observational error during naked-eye Islamic astronomy led to refinements in predicting planetary positions?
A)Parallax affecting lunar distance calculations
B)Atmospheric refraction distorting star positions✓
C)Aberration delaying sighted comet arrivals
D)Libration impacting Jupiter satellite observations
💡 Explanation
When observing stars, atmospheric refraction bends light because air density varies with altitude, causing stars to appear higher than their true positions, leading to positional errors. Therefore, understanding atmospheric refraction improved planetary position predictions rather than parallax (distance), aberration (motion), or libration (oscillation).
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