Absolute magnitude

In astronomy, absolute magnitude is a measure of the brightness of an object independent of the distance at which it is viewed.

For most objects absolute magnitude is defined to be the apparent magnitude it would have if it were at a distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.616 light years). In defining absolute magnitude it is necessary to specify the type of radiation that one is measuring. When refering to total energy output, the proper term is [bolometric magnitude]?.

For comets and asteroids a different definition of absolute magnitude is used, because the above one would be of little use. In this case, the absolute magnitude is defined as the apparent magnitude that the object would have if it were one astronomical unit from both the Sun and the Earth and at a phase angle of zero degrees. This is a physical impossibility, but it is convenient for purposes of calculation.