Two of the brightest stars in Orion are Betelgeuse (apparent magnitude = 0.45) and Rigel (apparent magnitude = 0.15). From this information, one can determine
A) that Betelgeuse is brighter than Rigel.
B) that Betelgeuse is bigger than Rigel.
C) that Betelgeuse is farther away than Rigel.
D) None of these are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The apparent magnitude system is a way of quantifying the brightness of celestial objects as seen from Earth, with lower numbers indicating brighter objects. Therefore, the apparent magnitude values given do not directly inform us about the physical size, distance, or intrinsic brightness of Betelgeuse compared to Rigel, only how bright they appear in the sky from Earth.

Two of the Brightest Stars in Orion Are Betelgeuse (Apparent