apparent magnitude

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the magnitude of a star as it appears to an observer on the earth.

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apparent magnitude British  

noun

1. another name for magnitude

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apparent magnitude Scientific  

1. See under magnitude

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Etymology

Origin of apparent magnitude

First recorded in 1870–75

Compare meaning

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

• apparent magnitude vs. absolute magnitude

Example Sentences

The company says it is planning to use anti-reflective materials on its next-generation satellites, as well as certain flight manoeuvres to reduce the crafts’ apparent magnitude.

From Scientific American • Oct. 2, 2023

Still, there have been leaks before, though not of the apparent magnitude of the document posted by Politico.

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2022

What is the apparent magnitude of the Sun as seen from Saturn, about 10 AU away?

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Well, it has an apparent magnitude of 7.075, a similar mass and temperature to our own sun, and a Neptune-sized planet, HD164595 b, in its orbit.

From The Guardian • Aug. 31, 2016

If the comparison of the apparent magnitude of the stars with their number leads to no immediately obvious conclusion, it is otherwise when we view them in connection with their local distribution over the heavens.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 15 — Science by Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir