Definitions of Magnitudes and Surface Brightness 1 The magnitude system 1.1 Apparent magnitude Astronomers are stuck with the antiquated old system of magnitudes and so a clear explanation of what this system is and how it relates to more sensible units is important. ... 1.2 Absolute magnitude Absolute magnitude is a logarithmic luminosity scale. ... One usually goes by the round about process of referring to the absolute magnitude of the sun. ... Magnitudes and surface brightness 6/6 ...

... Printed in U.S.A. THE STELLAR DISK THICKNESS OF LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXIES D. Bizyaev 1,2,3 and S. Kajsin 4 Received 2003 October 23; accepted 2004 June 9 ABSTRACT We present surface photometry results for a sample of 11 edge-on galaxies observed with the 6 m telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia. ... We find from a comparison of photometric scales that the stellar disks of LSB galaxies are thinner than those of high surface brightness ( HSB) galaxies. ... UGC 11301 .. ...