Eli5: how do astronomers know the size of objects in space?

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For example, if something would be a few light years wide, would that not mean we would have to use a thing to map it out for that amount of light years in years to get the actual map? Or do they use different methods, like scaling things close to it?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

If you can measure the angular width of an object, and its distance, you can calculate its width in light-years or whatever.

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