- #1
lavenderblue
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I need to convert the intensity, 130 counts per pixel into magnitudes per sq arc second. I have been given the radius as 5 arc sec, and a calibration constant, which is 30.8.
To convert intensity into magnitudes, you can use the formula M = -2.5 log(I/I0), where M is the magnitude, I is the intensity of the object, and I0 is the reference intensity (usually set to 1).
Converting intensity into magnitudes is important in astronomy because it allows us to measure the brightness of objects in a standardized unit. This makes it easier to compare the brightness of different objects and track changes in their brightness over time.
Magnitude is a logarithmic scale used to measure the brightness of celestial objects. The lower the magnitude, the brighter the object. Each increase in magnitude represents a decrease in brightness by a factor of approximately 2.5. For example, an object with a magnitude of 1 is about 2.5 times brighter than an object with a magnitude of 2.
No, magnitudes are a unitless measure. However, they can be converted into other units of measurement, such as watts per square meter or lumens, for specific objects or wavelengths of light.
Converting intensity into magnitudes is used in a variety of practical applications, such as measuring the brightness of stars and other celestial objects, determining the luminosity of light sources, and analyzing changes in brightness over time for objects such as variable stars. It is also used in the calibration of instruments and telescopes used in astronomical research.