Mysterious Universe

Question 1

Describe the magnitude scale for comparing the brightness of stars

Answer 1

Using this scale, a star that is one magnitude value lower than another star is about 2.5 times brighter.

Question 2

Define the apparent magnitude of celestial objects and identify the factors influencing it

Answer 2

Sun: −26
Full moon: −12
Venus: −4.3
Sirius: −1.5
Alpha Centauri: −0.04
Delta Crucis (Southern
Cross Constellation): - 2.8
Proxima Centauri: 11.1

Factors Influencing it:

• intrinsic luminosity
• the distance

Question 3

Account for the apparent motion of stars in the night sky

Question 4

Relate constellations to the arrangement of stars in the night sky