What observations of a star are necessary to determine the absolute magnitude of a star?
A) distance and temperature
B) apparent magnitude and temperature
C) just apparent magnitude since absolute magnitude is simply apparent magnitude + 5
D) apparent magnitude and distance

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the absolute magnitude of a star, one needs to know its apparent magnitude (how bright it appears from Earth) and its distance from Earth. Absolute magnitude is a measure of the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object and is defined as the apparent magnitude the object would have if it were located at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.6 light years) from Earth.

What Observations of a Star Are Necessary to Determine the Absolute