Chapter 28 – Star Magnitudes Worksheet

Name ___________________________ Earth Science

Absolute Magnitude is a measure of the true brightness or luminosity of a star. The absolute magnitude value is
determined by placing stars a distance of 32.6 LY from the Earth. The stars are then ranked according to their
luminosity. The lower the absolute magnitude value the brighter the star. Apparent magnitude is a measure of the
brightness of a star as viewed from Earth. The apparent magnitude is how we see the stars in the night sky. Again, the
lower the apparent magnitude value of a star the brighter the star. The distance the star is from the Earth will affect the
apparent magnitude of the star.

Rank Star Absolute Magnitude Apparent Distance from Earth

Magnitude (light-years)
_______ Sun +4.8 -26.72 ______

1 Sirius(in Canis Major) +1.4 -1.46 8.6

2 Canopus(in Carina) -2.5 -0.72 74

3 Rigel Kentaurus (Alpha +4.4 -0.27 4.3

Centauri) in Centaurus
4 Arcturus (in Bootes) +0.2 -0.04 34

5 Vega(in Lyra) +0.6 +0.03 25

6 Capella (in Auriga) +0.4 +0.08 41

7. Rigel (in Orion) -8.1 +0.12 900

8 Procyon (in Canis Minor) +2.8 +0.38 11

9 Archenar (in Eridanus) -1.3 +0.46 75

10 Betelgeuse(in Orion) -7.2 +0.50 643

11 Hadar (in Centaurus) -4.3 +0.61 300

12 Altair (in Aquila) +2.3 +0.77 17

13 Acrux (in Crux) -3.8 +0.79 270

14 Aldebaran (in Taurus) -0.2 +0.85 65

15 Antares (in Scorpius) -4.5 +0.96 400

16 Deneb (in Cygnus) -7.2 +1.25 1500

 Chapter 28 – Star Magnitude Worksheet
Name _________________________ Block ______ Date ___________ Earth Science

Use the table to answer the following questions.

1. What is the difference between absolute magnitude and apparent magnitude?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the brightest star in the night sky (not the sun)? ________________________________
3. What is the apparent magnitude of the brightest star (not the sun)? _______________________
4. The closest star to the Earth is _________________ at a distance of _____________ light years.
5. The farthest star from the Earth is _______________ at a distance of ____________ light years.
6. What is the faintest star in the night sky? __________________________________
7. Using absolute magnitude, what star is the brightest? ________________________
8. Name the two stars that are found in the constellation Orion?
_____________________ and ___________________
9. Which star is brighter in the night sky Arcturus or Antares? ________________________________
10. Which star has a lower absolute magnitude value Arcturus or Capella? ________________ Which star
would be brighter? ______________________
11. Which constellation has the brightest star in the night sky? ___________________________
12. Which star is brighter in the night sky Sirius or Deneb? ____________________
13. Rank the following stars in order from brightest (1) to dimmest (6) using apparent magnitude.
_______Vega
_______Archenar
_______Arcturus
_______Hadar
_______Canopus
_______Procyon