How is it the Sun does not have the highest absolute magnitude but has the highest apparent magnitude?
2007-01-20 07:26:21 · 4 answers · asked by RJ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Because the sun is about a gazillion times closer to us than any other star.
Apparent magnitude tells how bright it looks. Absolute magnitude tells how bright it actually is. The other stars are very, very, very far away. So, even though they might be much larger than our sun, they appear dim because of the gigantic distance.
2007-01-20 07:31:05 · answer #1 · answered by matt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparent size depends on the angle which the object subtends at the eye of the observer. And this angle depends not only on the absolute size of the object but also on its distance from the eye.
Among stars , the sun is nearest to us as compared to other stars, so although the Sun does not have the highest absolute magnitude of size but has the highest apparent magnitude of size.
2007-01-20 07:38:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our Sun
2016-05-24 01:21:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because its closest to us...
2007-01-20 08:23:23 · answer #4 · answered by Beach_Bum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋