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Photometry

  • Process of measuring apparent brightness of stars

5-step Magnitude Scale

  • Based on apparent magnitude ($m$)
  • 1 --> 6
  • Brightest --> dimmest
  • Larger magnitude --> less luminosity
  • 5 steps in magnitude equals 100 times in luminosity
  • 1 step in magnitude is 2.512 times in luminosity

Equations

  • The following equation allow us to calculate the difference in brightness of stars
    • $m_1 - m_2 = 2.5 \log(\frac{b_2}{b_1})$
    • $\frac{b_2}{b_1} = (100^{\frac{1}{5}})^{m_1 - m_2}$
      • $m_1$ and $m_2$ are magnitudes of stars
      • $b_1$ and $b_2$ are the brightness of stars

Astronomy Physics

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