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Eric Schulman and Caroline Cox
The present system of astronomical magnitudes was created as an inverse scale by Claudius Ptolemy in about 140 A.D. and was defined to be logarithmic in 1856 by Norman Pogson, who believed that human eyes respond logarithmically to the intensity of light. Although scientists have known for some time that the response is instead a power law, astronomers continue to use the Pogson magnitude scale. The peculiarities of this system make it easy for students to develop numerous misconceptions about how and why to use magnitudes. We present a useful exercise in the use of magnitudes to derive a cosmologically interesting quantity (the mass-to-light ratio for spiral galaxies), with potential pitfalls pointed out and explained.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 65, Issue 10, Pages 1003-1007
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=2873">Schulman, Eric, and Caroline Cox. "Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes." Am. J. Phys. 65, no. 10, (October 1, 1997): 1003-1007.</a>
AIP Format
E. Schulman and C. Cox, , Am. J. Phys. 65 (10), 1003 (1997), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714).
AJP/PRST-PER
E. Schulman and C. Cox, Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes, Am. J. Phys. 65 (10), 1003 (1997), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714>.
APA Format
Schulman, E., & Cox, C. (1997, October 1). Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes. Am. J. Phys., 65(10), 1003-1007. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714
Chicago Format
Schulman, Eric, and Caroline Cox. "Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes." Am. J. Phys. 65, no. 10, (October 1, 1997): 1003-1007, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714 (accessed 3 May 2025).
MLA Format
Schulman, Eric, and Caroline Cox. "Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes." Am. J. Phys. 65.10 (1997): 1003-1007. 3 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{
Author = "Eric Schulman and Caroline Cox",
Title = {Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes},
Journal = {Am. J. Phys.},
Volume = {65},
Number = {10},
Pages = {1003-1007},
Month = {October},
Year = {1997}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Eric Schulman %A Caroline Cox %T Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes %J Am. J. Phys. %V 65 %N 10 %D October 1, 1997 %P 1003-1007 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714 %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Journal Article %A Schulman, Eric %A Cox, Caroline %D October 1, 1997 %T Misconceptions about astronomical magnitudes %J Am. J. Phys. %V 65 %N 10 %P 1003-1007 %8 October 1, 1997 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18714 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |
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