Astronomy Practice Exam

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What does absolute magnitude measure regarding a star?

The total weight of the star
The amount of light emitted from a standard distance
The temperature of the star's surface
The star's distance from Earth

The correct answer is: The amount of light emitted from a standard distance

Absolute magnitude measures the intrinsic brightness of a star by determining the amount of light it emits when viewed from a standard distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.6 light-years). This standardization allows astronomers to compare the true brightness of stars without the interference of distance, which can affect how bright a star appears from Earth. Option B effectively captures this concept, as it relates directly to the measurement of light output at a specific distance. The remaining options address other characteristics of stars that are not related to absolute magnitude. For instance, the total weight of a star pertains to mass rather than brightness. The temperature of the star's surface is measured through spectral classification and color, which does not correlate with absolute magnitude. Lastly, while distance is a key factor in observing stellar brightness, it does not define absolute magnitude itself, which is concerned solely with a star's intrinsic luminosity.