What is the fundamental difference between absolute and apparent magnitude of a star?
A) The difference is +5 since absolute and apparent magnitude differ by this value by definition.
B) Apparent magnitude depends on the star's temperature, whereas absolute magnitude is independent of temperature.
C) Apparent magnitude depends on the size of the star, whereas absolute magnitude is independent of this parameter.
D) Absolute magnitude is an intrinsic property of the star, whereas apparent magnitude depends on its distance from Earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Absolute magnitude measures a star's intrinsic brightness as it would appear at a standard distance of 10 parsecs from Earth, making it a property inherent to the star itself. Apparent magnitude, on the other hand, measures how bright the star appears from Earth, which varies with distance.

What Is the Fundamental Difference Between Absolute and Apparent Magnitude