What Is the Stellar Magnitude System?

  • Published In: Sky & Telescope, 2023, v. 145, n. 5. P. 72 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Tyson, Peter 3 of 3

Abstract

So, in 1856, English astronomer Norman Pogson proposed that astronomers define a difference of five magnitudes as a brightness ratio of exactly 100 to 1. Though astronomers quickly adopted Pogson's system, another problem remained: Some 1st-magnitude stars are brighter than other 1st-magnitude stars. In his own star catalog, Ptolemy characterized some stars as "greater" or "smaller" within a magnitude class. Astronomers today now measure differences as small as 11//100100 of a magnitude or smaller. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sky & Telescope. 2023/05, Vol. 145, Issue 5, p72
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0037-6604
  • Accession Number:161977876
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