Magnitude scale

Forums Variable Stars AAVSO guide question Magnitude scale

#578257
Robin Leadbeater
Participant

Hi Matt,

Magnitude is a log scale so v(target)- v(comparison) is actually the ratio of the intensities of the two stars, which is independent of the actual count/intensity scaling in the image.

the magnitude of the comparsion star is itself a ratio (To a standard star with vmag =0 eg Vega)

Cheers

Robin