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Home » Night Sky Objects

What is Magnitude in Astronomy? Definition, Examples

Published: Mar 14, 2020 · Last update: Jan 27, 2023 · Author: Paweł Białecki · Leave a Comment

Magnitude (in astronomy, stargazing, and astrophotography) is simply a measure of the brightness of an astronomical (celestial) object (e.g., a star like Betelgeuse or a galaxy like Andromeda galaxy).

Magnitude in Astronomy

Why is it important for an amateur (professional) astronomer, stargazer, and astrophotographer? It's straightforward - the brighter the object, the easier it is to spot, gaze, and photograph!

Jump to:
  • Magnitude Types
  • How is Calculated
  • Magnitude Examples on Different Astronomical Objects
  • Practical Tips
  • 💬 Comments

Magnitude Types

There are two types of magnitude in astronomy: apparent and absolute. In our hobby, we mainly use the apparent one - the brightness as it appears to our eyes on the night sky, not the absolute "quantity"/"amount" of light that a particular celestial object "produces" objectively.

How is Calculated

There are two facts about the magnitude that may be counterintuitive for a newcomer to the hobby:

  1. It is "reversed" - the smaller the number, the brighter the celestial object appears on the night sky.
  2. It can be negative.

Look at the table below.

Magnitude Examples on Different Astronomical Objects

Here I curated a few interesting astrophotography and stargazing objects in order of their magnitude. I sorted from the brightest to the dimmest (non-visible).

Astronomical ObjectApparent Magnitude
Sun-27
Full Moon-13
International Space Station (ISS)-6
Mars and Jupiter-3
Vega and Saturn0
Pleiades1.6
Polaris (North Star)2
Andromeda Galaxy3.44
North America Nebula4
Rosette Nebula4.8
Uranus5
Naked Eye Limit6
Ceres7
Neptune8
Proxima Centauri11
Limit of the Hubble Telescope32

Practical Tips

It's important to remember that there is one more important factor in stargazing and astrophotography than magnitude itself - the clear, dark sky. It can be hard to spot even bright objects like Pleiades or Orion Nebula on a highly light-polluted night sky in a city. If you live in a town area like me, then get into the car, drive some distance from the center, and enjoy astronomy as it should be - without (or with greatly reduced) artificial light. Use this fantastic map to find dark-sky spots in your area.

Learn more about space

Planets in Order From the Sun (With Facts & Photos)

More Night Sky Objects

  • night sky with the Lyra constellation highlighted, realistic star field, Vega glowing brightly, artistic harp shape outlined with soft lines or glow, clean composition for blog header, dark blue and black sky tones, minimal labeling, no text
    Lyra Constellation: How to Find It, What to See, and Why It Matters
  • a dreamy astronomy night sky full of stars, planets, and nebulae, viewed from Earth, with a silhouette of a person looking up, peaceful mood, digital painting
    Astronomy From Earth: What’s Actually Up There in the Night Sky?
  • Cone Nebula. Credit: Mount Lemmon / Adam Block, University of Arizona / SkyCenter
    Cone Nebula: Exploring the Beauty
  • The Best James Webb Space Telescope Images

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Paweł Białecki, the author behind Astro Photons
Paweł Białecki

I’m Paweł Białecki — an astrophotographer and indie app developer who’s been exploring the night sky for over a decade. Here on Astro Photons, I share practical guides, cosmic insights, and deep-sky photos to help you enjoy and understand our universe — no telescope degree required.

This blog is part of my personal mission to make astronomy more approachable. I write for beginners, hobbyists, and curious stargazers who want real, useful advice — not just textbook definitions. All guides are based on hands-on experience, actual night sky photography, and a genuine love for the cosmos.

I also build simple, helpful tools for fellow science enthusiasts — like UnitToolbox, a universal unit converter made to work beautifully on any device.

More about me →

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