The basic idea is:* Measure the star's apparent magnitude
* Calculate the star's distance
* The absolute magnitude can be directly calculated from these two pieces of information. However, adjustments may need to be made for extinction - that is, if there is a lot of dust or gas between the star and us, it looks dimmer than without the dust or gas.
Without extinction, the Wikipedia gives the following formula:
M = m - 5((log10 DL) - 1)
Where M is the absolute magnitude, m is the apparent magnitude, DL is the distance in parsec.
The star is called Altair; the absolute magnitude is estimated at 2.21.The star is called Altair; the absolute magnitude is estimated at 2.21.The star is called Altair; the absolute magnitude is estimated at 2.21.The star is called Altair; the absolute magnitude is estimated at 2.21.
That's the number called the star's "Absolute Magnitude".That is called the star's "absolute magnitude".
Absolute magnitude is the brightness of an object (star, galaxy, etc.) from a standard distance."Bolometric" means that the entire energy output is calculated - not just visible light.
Absolute magnitude is how bright a star is. Apparent magnitude is how bright it looks to us (on Earth).
Distance
The standard distance is 10 parsecs. At this distance the star's apparent magnitude equals its absolute magnitude. A star 100 parsecs away has an absolute magnitude 5 magnitudes brighter than its apparent magnitude. 1 parsec is 3.26 light-years.
How far away the star is.
The apparent magnitude is what we see, and this can be measured directly. The absolute magnitude must be calculated, mainly on the basis of (1) the apparent magnitude, and (2) the star's distance. So, to calculate the absolute magnitude, you must first know the star's distance.
That's called the star's absolute magnitude.
No. The sun has an absolute magnitude of 4.83. By comparison, Betelgeuse has an absolute magnitude of -5.85. Lower numbers indicate a brighter star. In this case Betelgeuse is actually several thousand times brighter than the sun. The sun is the brightest star as measure by apparent magnitude, which is how bright a star looks from a given location and depends on both absolute magnitude and distance.
Apparent magnitude is the brightness as observed from earth, while absolute magnitude is the brightness of a star at a set distance. The apparent magnitude considers the stars actual brightness as well as it's distance from us, but absolute magnitude takes the distance factor out so that star brightnesses can be directly compared.
No. Absolute magnitude is an intrinsic property of the star, but apparent magnitude also depends on the star's distance from Earth.