Intrinsic brightness:
* Luminosity: This is the total amount of light a star emits per unit time. It's a measure of the star's true power output.
* Absolute magnitude: This is a logarithmic scale that quantifies a star's luminosity as seen from a standard distance (10 parsecs).
Apparent brightness:
* Magnitude: This is a logarithmic scale that measures how bright a star appears from Earth.
* Apparent brightness: This is a less precise term that simply refers to how bright a star seems to us.
Other related terms:
* Light curve: This is a graph that shows how a star's brightness changes over time.
* Spectral type: This is a classification system based on the star's temperature and color, which can give an indication of its luminosity.
So, the best term to use will depend on what you're trying to describe. If you're talking about the star's intrinsic power output, "luminosity" or "absolute magnitude" are good choices. If you're talking about how bright it appears from Earth, "magnitude" or "apparent brightness" are more appropriate.
