Question

The star Antares has an apparent magnitude (brightness) of 1.0, whereas the star Procyon has an apparent magnitude of 0.4.

a.) From just the information above, can you determine which star is more luminous? If yes, which one? If no, why not?

b.) The absolute magnitude (brightness) of Antares is -5.28, and the absolute magnitude of procyon is 2.68. Which star is more luminous Which star is closer?

Answer 1

Below

Step-by-step explanation:

The LOWER ( or more negative) the APPARENT magnitude the brighter the sky-object is to observer on earth ....so Procyon (part of the Winter Hexagon) is brighter of the two in the night sky.

At an EQUAL DISTANCE from earth Antares would appear MUCH brighter than Procyon so it must be much further from Earth than Procyon .

Procyon is closer. Antares is brighter (absolute mag is lower).

(As a 'Internet check' : Procyon is 11.45 light years away from Earth and Antares is 554.5 light years away)