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In order to compare the brightness of two stars, a measure of their brightness was needed. Determining what is termed as a star's 'magnitude' helped crossed this hurdle. The term 'magnitude' describes the brightness of a star as viewed from the earth.
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WiseDude.com The Brightness of Stars
Look up at the night sky and you will see many stars, some very bright, some slightly less bright and some even faint. What does this mean? Does a bright star mean that it is very near to the earth, or does it mean that it is bigger than the rest so it shines bright? Or is it just that different stars have different levels of brightness? These questions have puzzled astronomers through the ages and they have endeavored to find the answers for us.
In order to compare the brightness of two stars, a measure of their brightness was needed. Determining what is termed as a star's 'magnitude' helped crossed this hurdle. The term 'magnitude' describes the brightness of a star as viewed from the earth.
Early astronomical findings
The origin of this concept can be traced back to Ptolemy, the astronomer of yore hailing from Alexandria. In the course of his studies of the stars he divided all the visible ones into six different categories on the basis of their brightness, the first magnitude containing stars which were the brightest and the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth containing stars according to the diminishing level of their brightness. Those in the sixth magnitude were barely visible to the human eye. Later astronomers improved upon Ptolemy's classification, as better tools to study the mysteries of space were accessible to them. Astronomers in the 17th Century used the telescope and classified more stars that were hitherto unknown, owing to their not being visible to the naked eye.
Then as the need for improving the system was felt, a standard system of magnitudes was adopted in the 19th Century. According to this system, a star would be 2.512 times brighter than a star of the next magnitude. There is a lot of mathematics involved here too. Do some mental sums and you will see that 2.512 is the fifth root of 100. So when you look at it the other way round, a star in the first magnitude is 100 times brighter than a star in the sixth magnitude.
There are twenty stars in the first magnitude and they have a magnitude of 1.5. These are the brightest stars that are visible from the earth. The higher the magnitude attributed to a star is, the dimmer it is when seen from the earth. Until the nineteenth century, magnitude was the only way to measure a star's brightness. Astronomers now have high precision instruments that help them measure even minute differences between the magnitudes of different stars. Now astronomers are able to measure the actual amount of light from a star that reaches the earth.
Magnitudes - absolute, apparent and visual
Absolute magnitude refers to the magnitude of a star when viewed from a standard distance of about 32 light years. Unless otherwise specified the given magnitude of a star is its apparent magnitude. When a star is studied with the help of a telescope, it is studied to photographic film. Photographic film is more sensitive to blue light whereas the human eye is more sensitive to yellow light. So the perception of brightness will differ. Hence, a classification of visual magnitude was found necessary to indicate this difference.
Some stars and their magnitudes
The sun has a magnitude of -26.7 and is 10 million times as bright as Sirius.
Sirius, the brightest star outside the solar system, has a magnitude of -1.6.
Alpha Centauri the third brightest star has a magnitude of -0.1.
Arcturus, the fourth brightest star in the sky, has a visual magnitude of -0.05.
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What is an absolute magnitude?
Absolute magnitude is a measure of the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object, such as a star or galaxy. It is defined as the brightness the object would have if it were located at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light years) away from Earth. This measurement allows astronomers to compare the true brightness of different objects independently of their distance from Earth.
Why do scientists need common system of measurement?
A common system of measurement allows scientists to communicate and compare data accurately across different studies and regions. It ensures consistency, precision, and reliability in scientific research and promotes effective collaboration among researchers worldwide.
How are cepheid variables used in determining distance?
Cepheid variables are a type of pulsating star whose brightness varies in a regular pattern. The key relationship used in distance measurement is the period-luminosity relation, which states that the longer the pulsation period of a Cepheid, the more luminous it is. By measuring the period of a Cepheid's brightness fluctuations, astronomers can determine its absolute brightness and compare it to its observed brightness to calculate the distance using the inverse square law of light. This method allows for accurate distance measurements to nearby galaxies and helps establish the scale of the universe.
Does the brightness of a star make it impossible to see?
No, the brightness is what allows you to see it. The ones that are impossible to see don't have enough brightness.
Why is the use of an international system of measurement important for science?
An international system of measurement is important for science because it provides a standardized way for scientists all around the world to communicate and compare their results. This ensures consistency and accuracy in scientific experiments and allows for more reliable and reproducible findings. It also facilitates collaboration between researchers from different countries and disciplines.
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What is a stars brightness as if it were a standard distance?
A star's brightness at a standard distance is referred to as its apparent magnitude. This standard distance is 10 parsecs (32.6 light-years) from Earth. Apparent magnitude allows astronomers to compare the brightness of stars as seen from Earth, regardless of their actual distance from us.
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