To an astronomer, what is a "standard candle"?
A) standard light source that is placed in a telescope, with which the brightness of stars and other objects can be compared
B) galaxy whose redshift has been measured accurately
C) object whose absolute magnitude or intrinsic brightness is known
D) accurately defined brightness scale for stars and galaxies, such as the magnitude scale

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A "standard candle" in astronomy is an object whose absolute magnitude or intrinsic brightness is known, allowing astronomers to determine distances by comparing its known luminosity to its observed brightness.

To an Astronomer, What Is a "Standard Candle