The reference that astronomers use to compare the luminosity of other stars is the sun's luminosity. The luminosity is denoted in multiples of the sun's luminosity. For example, the luminosity of the star Sirius is 25 times the luminosity of the sun.
Astronomers define star brightness in terms of apparent magnitude (how bright the star appears from Earth) and absolute magnitude (how bright the star appears at a standard distance of 32.6 light years, or 10 parsecs). Astronomers also measure luminosity - the amount of energy (light) that a star emits from its surface.
It means how much power (energy per unit time) the star emits in total.
Paynis
The Sun is the main basis for many stellar parameters. A far as luminosity goes - it is 1.
Luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted by a star per second.
apparent brightness and distance are the most straightforward measurements. However using the Hertzprung-Russel (HR) Diagram you can determine the stellar class (and with it the luminosity) of a star by observing it's color, and the characteristics of the spectral lines in the stars light. This allows a quick, if indirect, and accurate method to determining stellar luminosities.
Distance.
Astronomers use a method called parallax to measure the distance to nearby stars. Astronomers can measure parallax by measuring the position of a nearby star with respect to the distant stars behind it. Then, they measure the same stars again six months later when the Earth is on the opposite side of its orbit.
Stellar temperature can be measured by analysing the spectrum of light that stars emit; shorter wavelengths correspond to higher temperatures.
The Sun is the main basis for many stellar parameters. A far as luminosity goes - it is 1.
not enough info
How do they measure what?
Luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted by a star per second.
A solar luminosity is equal to the current luminosity of the Sun, which is 3.839 × 1026 W, or 3.839 × 1033 erg/s.So dividing one solar luminosity with the Suns luminosity gives 1.Also it is a lot easier talking about a luminosity of 1 rather than 3.838 x 1026 W, the same way astronomers use 1 AU to mean 150,000,000km.
Stellar Parallax Astronomers estimate the distance of nearby objects in space by using a method called stellar parallax, or trigonometric parallax. Simply put, they measure a star's apparent movement against the background of more distant stars as Earth revolves around the sun.
apparent brightness and distance are the most straightforward measurements. However using the Hertzprung-Russel (HR) Diagram you can determine the stellar class (and with it the luminosity) of a star by observing it's color, and the characteristics of the spectral lines in the stars light. This allows a quick, if indirect, and accurate method to determining stellar luminosities.
J. G. Ireland has written: 'The effect of rotation on stellar luminosity' -- subject(s): Stars
Parallax is the method that astronomers use to measure the distance from the sun to the earth.
Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.
It is possible that someday astronomers will measure all the distances of the 100 billion galaxies in the universe.