The Night Sky, Explainedby Dmitry Shteynbuk
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How stars workDefinedTerm

Absolute magnitude

How bright an object would appear at a standard distance of 10 parsecs.

Removes the effect of distance, letting astronomers compare the true luminosities of stars.

Used in these guides

  • Magnitude: How Astronomers Measure BrightnessNaked-eye astronomy
  • The HR Diagram: The Single Most Useful Chart in AstronomyHow stars work
  • How Far Is Far: The Cosmic Distance LadderBeyond the Sun
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The Night Sky, Explained — by Dmitry Shteynbuk, Miami, Florida

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