Name________________________________________________________Date_________________________
1
+4.8
-26.72
-
o
5700
2
3
4
The Sun
Sirius (in Canis
Major)
Canopus (in
Carina)
Rigel Kentaurus
(Alpha Centauri, in Centaurus)
+1.4
+0.5
+4.4
-1.46
-0.72
-0.27
8.6
74
4.3
12000
7000
5600
5
Arcturus (in
Bootes)
+0.2 -0.04 34 4500
6 Vega (in Lyra) +0.6 +0.03 25 18000
7
Capella (in
Auriga)
-0.4 +0.08 41 5200
8 -8.1 +0.12 900 18500
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Rigel (in Orion)
Procyon (in Canis
Minor)
Archenar (in
Eridanus)
Betelgeuse (in
Orion)
Hadar (in
Centaurus)
Altair (in Aquila)
Aldebaran (in
Taurus)
Antares (in
Scorpius)
Spica (in Virgo)
Deneb (in
Cygnus
Vans Maanens
+0.28
-1.3
-7.2
-4.3
+0.5
-0.2
-4.5
-3.55
-7.2
+ 12.8
+0.38
+0.46
+0.50
+0.61
+0.77
+0.85
+0.96
+1.04
+1.25
+17.34
11
75
1500
300
17
65
400
260
1500
14.1
6000
6500
3500
4200
9000
4500
3300
22185
12000
7200

Apparent Magnitude:
The measure of the brightness of a celestial object as seen from Earth.
The lower the number the brighter the object.
Negative numbers indicate extreme brightness.
Developed by Greek Astronomer Hipparchus in 120 B.C.
Absolute magnitude:
Measure of the inherent brightness of a celestial object
The scale is defined as the apparent magnitude a star would have it were seen from a distance of
32.6 light-years.
Lower the number brighter the star.
Negative numbers indicate extreme brightness.
Questions: use the chart to help you answer these:
1. What is the brightest star in the sky other than the Sun? ________________________________
- What is the apparent magnitude?
_________________________________
- What constellation is it in? ______________________________________
- How far away is it? ______________________________________
2. The closest star other than the Sun is ______________________________ at __________________ light years away.
3. The farthest star is ______________________________________ at __________________light years away.
4. What constellation has 2 of brightest stars in sky? ____________________________________________
- Name of the star - ____________________________________ with an apparent magnitude of
____________________________
- Name of the other star - ___________________________________ with an apparent magnitude of
____________________________
5. What is the difference between absolute and apparent magnitude? ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Rank these stars in order from brightest to dimmest apparent magnitude: (1-7)
Vega Archenar Aldebaran Arcturus Hadar Canopus Procyon