absolute magnitude

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the magnitude of a star as it would appear to a hypothetical observer at a distance of 10 parsecs or 32.6 light-years.

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absolute magnitude British  

noun

1. the apparent magnitude a given star would have if it were situated at a distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light years) from the earth

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absolute magnitude Scientific  

1. See under at magnitude

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Etymology

Origin of absolute magnitude

First recorded in 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does absolute-magnitude compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• apparent magnitude vs. absolute magnitude

Example Sentences

In table 8 I give a list of those parallax stars that have an absolute magnitude greater than 9m.

From Lectures on Stellar Statistics by Charlier, Carl Vilhelm Ludvig

This plant obviously was chosen by the Lord, not on account of its absolute magnitude, but because it was, and was recognized to be, a striking instance of increase from very small to very great.

From Jesus the Christ A Study of the Messiah and His Mission According to Holy Scriptures Both Ancient and Modern by Talmage, James Edward

We conclude that the number of stars having an absolute magnitude brighter than 6m amounts to 8.

From Lectures on Stellar Statistics by Charlier, Carl Vilhelm Ludvig

In this way was discovered the dependence of their relative intensities on the star's absolute magnitude, so providing the powerful method of spectroscopic parallaxes.

From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by Todd, David Peck

When we say "absolute magnitude," we do not mean a magnitude which stands out of all relations to other facts in the universe.

From Social Value A Study in Economic Theory Critical and Constructive by Anderson, Benjamin M. (Benjamin McAlester)