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

Last year he published in Nature an article which, running from four different lines of argument, seeks to establish proof of the absolute magnitude of the atoms of matter.

From Western Worthies A Gallery of Biographical and Critical Sketches of West of Scotland Celebrities by Jeans, J. Stephen (James Stephen)

The absolute magnitude of my misfortune only loomed upon me by degrees.

From O'Conors of Castle Conor by Trollope, Anthony

These relations are, absolute magnitude of force, relation of force and of the different arms mutually, and nature of the country.

From On War — Volume 1 by Graham, J. J., Colonel

The incompatibility of the two opposing conceptions comes out strikingly here: if value be an absolute magnitude, then there can be a general rise or fall of values without disturbing exchange ratios at all—12:6::6:3.

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

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