What is the Difference Between Absolute and Apparent Magnitude?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between absolute and apparent magnitude lies in the distance from which the brightness of a star is measured:
- Absolute Magnitude: This is a measure of how bright a star would be if it were seen from a standard distance of 10 parsecs (32.58 light-years) away. It represents the star's intrinsic luminosity and is used to compare the inherent brightness of stars without the effect of distance.
- Apparent Magnitude: This is the brightness of a star as seen from Earth. It is a measure of how luminous a star appears to an observer on Earth and is affected by the star's distance from Earth.
In summary, absolute magnitude is a measure of a star's intrinsic brightness when viewed from a standard distance, while apparent magnitude is a measure of a star's brightness as seen from Earth, which is affected by the star's distance.
Comparative Table: Absolute vs Apparent Magnitude
The main difference between absolute and apparent magnitude lies in the distance of the object from Earth. Absolute magnitude is a measure of a star's true brightness, while apparent magnitude is how bright a star appears from Earth. Here is a table summarizing the differences:
Feature | Absolute Magnitude | Apparent Magnitude |
---|---|---|
Definition | A measure of a star's intrinsic brightness | A measure of how bright a star appears from Earth |
Distance | Assumes a distance of 10 parsecs (approximately 32.6 light-years) from Earth | Varies depending on the actual distance of the star from Earth |
Magnitude | Indicates the star's true brightness, not affected by distance | Indicates the star's brightness as seen from Earth, affected by distance |
Calculation | To find a star's absolute magnitude (Mv), use the formula: Mv = m - 2.5 log (d/10)² | To find a star's distance from its absolute and apparent magnitudes, use the formula: d = 10^(0.2*((m - Mv) / 5)) (Source:) |
The scale for both absolute and apparent magnitude is logarithmic, with a difference of 1 magnitude corresponding to a 2.512 times difference in brightness.
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