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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · The Night Sky & Measurement

Magnitude

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

/ˈmæɡnɪtuːd/nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, magnitude means: A number that measures how bright a star or other object looks. The scale runs backwards: the lower the number, the brighter the object, and very bright objects have negative values.

In Turkish: kadir, parlaklık derecesi

How it is used

Used in star charts, observing guides and news about bright planets or comets. 'Apparent magnitude' is brightness as seen from Earth; 'absolute magnitude' is true brightness. The faintest stars visible to the naked eye are around magnitude 6.

Example sentences

  1. Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, has a magnitude of -1.46.

  2. The comet may reach magnitude 4 and become visible without binoculars.

Common collocations

  • apparent magnitude
  • absolute magnitude
  • limiting magnitude
  • magnitude scale
  • starA huge ball of hot gas, mainly hydrogen and helium, that produces light and heat through nuclear reactions in its core. The Sun is the nearest star to Earth.
  • light pollutionToo much artificial light at night from streetlights, buildings and signs, which brightens the sky and hides faint stars and galaxies.
  • apertureThe diameter of a telescope's main lens or mirror. A larger aperture collects more light, so fainter objects and finer details can be seen.
  • constellationA group of stars that forms a recognisable pattern in the sky, and the area of sky around it. Astronomers officially recognise 88 constellations.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: The Night Sky & Measurement

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