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  • Subject: Magnitude vs. Luminosity
Subject: Magnitude vs. Luminosity
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Astronomy FTW

Tubas Represent!

Recently, I've been trying to figure out the difference between these two astronomical terms; however every definition I've looked up tells me a different thing. Here's what I have so far.

Luminosity:
1. Deals with how bright a star is.
2. Total amount of energy radiated from said star.
3. Measure in solar luminosity.

Magnitude:
1. Deals with how bright/dim a star is.
2. How bright we as humans see the star.
3. Two types: Apparent which is how bright stars appear from Earth and Absolute which is how bright stars would appear if the observer was 10 parsecs(about 32 LYs) away.

Note: That both can be put on an H-R diagram w/o the position of the stars changing.

So now you're wondering why I just threw a bunch of information at you. Well I want to make sure that I got the difference right and so far other sources aren't helping. Any help is appreciated!

  • 11.29.2012 7:25 PM PDT