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abstraction > mathematical concept > number > quantity > radiation measurement > magnitude |
magnitude comparison table |
Subject | has definition |
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absolute magnitude | The absolute magnitude (g) of a solar-system body such as an asteroid is defined as the brightness at zero phase angle when the object is 1 AU from the Sun and 1 AU from the observer. |
apparent magnitude | Measure of the observed brightness of a celestial object as seen from the Earth. It is a function of the star's intrinsic brightness, its distance from the observer, and the amount of absorption by interstellar matter between the star and the observer. The mv, of Sun, -26.5 mag. A sixth-magnitude star is just barely visible to the naked eye. |
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