The Night Sky, Explainedby Dmitry Shteynbuk
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Naked-eye astronomyDefinedTerm

Apparent magnitude

How bright an object appears from Earth.

The Sun is −26.7, the full Moon around −12.7, Sirius −1.46, and the faintest stars visible to the unaided eye from a dark site are near +6.

Used in these guides

  • Magnitude: How Astronomers Measure BrightnessNaked-eye astronomy
  • The HR Diagram: The Single Most Useful Chart in AstronomyHow stars work
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