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No. Apparent magnitude (or luminosity) means how bright a star (or other object) looks to us; absolute magnitude (or luminosity) refers to how bright it really is.

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Q: Does apparent magnitude refer to real luminosity?
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If a main sequence star has an apparent magnitude of 5 what is it's spectral type?

It may be just about anything. The apparent magnitude tells us how bright the star looks to us, not how bright it really is. The apparent magnitude (or brightness) depends both on the absolute magnitude (real brightness), but also depends on the star's distance.


05. What two parameters does the brightness of a star depend on?

The brightness of a star - or apparent magnitude [See related question] is how bright a star is as viewed from Earth. Therefore, if we have two stars of similar luminosity but one is twice as far away, then the further star would appear dimmer than the closer star. There are more luminous stars than our Sun but because the Sun is a lot closer, it is brighter. So the brightness of a star depends on it's luminosity and it's distance from the observer. A stars luminosity is a factor of how hot it is, and how big it is.


Why does Arcturus star have greater absolute magnitude than the sun buy a much lower apparent magnitude?

The apparent magnitude is how bright the star appears to us, but stars are all at different distances so that a star that is really bright might look dim because it is very far away. So the absolute magnitude measures how bright the star would look if it was placed at a standard distance of 10 parsecs. When the absolute magnitude is greater than the apparent magnitude, it just means that it is closer than 10 pc. The brightest stars have absolute magnitudes around -7.


What does size tell us about the luminosity of stars?

Generally, the larger the star, the more luminous it is.However, luminosity is measured as the visible light of a star as seen at the interstellar distance of 10 parsecs.So a massive star could have a lower luminosity than a bright blue supergiant.


What is the stars absolute magnitude?

A star's "absolute magnitude" is a measure of its absolute (or real) brightness. It is defined as the "apparent magnitude" the star would have at a standard distance of 10 parsecs, which is equal to 32.6 light years.

Related questions

How do size temperature and distance affect a star's magnitude or luminousity?

A star's real luminosity is proportional to the the square of its diameter, and more or less proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature. The star's apparent luminosity is proportional to its real luminosity. It is also inversely proportional to the square of the distance.


How do you measure the distance to a cepheid?

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.


If a main sequence star has an apparent magnitude of 5 what is it's spectral type?

It may be just about anything. The apparent magnitude tells us how bright the star looks to us, not how bright it really is. The apparent magnitude (or brightness) depends both on the absolute magnitude (real brightness), but also depends on the star's distance.


Define standard candle as it is used in astronomy?

A "standard candle" in astronomy is an object whose luminosity (its true brightness, not just how bright it seems to us) can be estimated, based on characteristics of that type of object. Then its distance can be estimated from its "apparent magnitude". The stars called "Cepheid variables" are a good example. The rate at which their brightness varies is closely linked to their luminosity.


What factors determind a stars apparent magnitude?

The star's real magnitude (brightness), its distance from us, and anything in between (usually dust or gas) which might absorb part of the light.


Why does a star look smaller than another star but is bigger than the other star?

Normally you would observe the star's brightness, not its apparent diameter.The star's apparent brightness ("apparent magnitude") depends on its real brightness ("absolute magnitude"), and on the distance. Similarly, the star's apparent angular diameter (which is VERY hard to measure) would depend on its actual diameter, and on the distance.


Is it possible for two regular stars to have the same absolute magnitude but differ in apparent magnitude?

One dimmer star can be closer than a brighter star that is far away. Light flux decreases as the square of the distance. A star that is three times as far away will have to shine nine times brighter than the closer star (absolute magnitude) to appear to have the same magnitude (apparent magnitude). Because apparent magnitude is the brightness of a star, as seen from Earth, whereas absolute magnitude is the brightness of a star as seen from the same distance - about 32.6 light years away.


A star's brightness is the brightness seen by humans on Earth. A star's brightness is its actual brightness and does not depend on where the star is viewed from.?

The brightness as seen from Earth is called the "apparent magnitude".The real brightness (defined as the apparent brightness, as seen from a standard distance) is called the "absolute magnitude".


05. What two parameters does the brightness of a star depend on?

The brightness of a star - or apparent magnitude [See related question] is how bright a star is as viewed from Earth. Therefore, if we have two stars of similar luminosity but one is twice as far away, then the further star would appear dimmer than the closer star. There are more luminous stars than our Sun but because the Sun is a lot closer, it is brighter. So the brightness of a star depends on it's luminosity and it's distance from the observer. A stars luminosity is a factor of how hot it is, and how big it is.


What are three factors that determine the apparent magnitude of a star?

Its real (absolute) magnitude; its distance from Earth; the amount of light that's absorbed by matter between the star and us (extinction); distortions due to gravitational lensing.


Why does Arcturus star have greater absolute magnitude than the sun buy a much lower apparent magnitude?

The apparent magnitude is how bright the star appears to us, but stars are all at different distances so that a star that is really bright might look dim because it is very far away. So the absolute magnitude measures how bright the star would look if it was placed at a standard distance of 10 parsecs. When the absolute magnitude is greater than the apparent magnitude, it just means that it is closer than 10 pc. The brightest stars have absolute magnitudes around -7.


Why is Vega brighter than Betelgeuse?

A star's brightness is a function of its luminosity, or the amount of energy it produces per unit time. Vega must have a higher luminosity, meaning it fuses more material than Betelgeuse in a given period of time.