The star β Phoenicis has an apparent magnitude of +3.4 and an absolute magnitude of -4.6.The North Star (Polaris)has an apparent magnitude of +2.0 and an absolute magnitude of -4.6.Assuming that no light has been absorbed or scattered by interstellar dust,we can say for sure that Polaris is:
A) the same distance as β Phoenicis from Earth.
B) closer to Earth than β Phoenicis.
C) farther away from Earth than β Phoenicis.
D) fainter than β Phoenicis in Earth's sky.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both stars have the same absolute magnitude of -4.6, which means they have the same intrinsic brightness. However, Polaris has a greater apparent magnitude of +2.0, which means it appears brighter in the sky. Since apparent magnitude is affected by distance, we can conclude that Polaris must be closer to Earth than β Phoenicis, which has an apparent magnitude of +3.4. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

The Star β Phoenicis Has an Apparent Magnitude of +3