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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/astro-absolute-magnitude-10pc

Absolute magnitude is how bright an object would look from what distance?

10 parsecs (about 32.6 light-years).

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  1. 10 parsecs ✔
  2. 1 astronomical unit
  3. 1 light-year

Why: Apparent magnitude depends on distance. Absolute magnitude puts every star at the same 10 parsecs so their true brightness can be compared. The Sun, -26.7 from Earth, would be a dim +4.7.

Huh, didn't know that: Venus outshines every star in our sky only because it is so close.

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At 10 parsecs, the Sun would be just another face in the crowd.
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References

Answer: 10 parsecs. Apparent magnitude depends on distance. Absolute magnitude puts every star at the same 10 parsecs so their true brightness can be compared. The Sun, -26.7 from Earth, would be a dim +4.7.

  1. Las Cumbres Observatory, What is absolute magnitude? lco.global/spacebook/distance/what-absolute-magnitude
    Absolute magnitude is defined to be the apparent magnitude an object would have if it were located at a distance of 10 parsecs .
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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