* The Magnitude System is Logarithmic: The magnitude system is based on a logarithmic scale, meaning that each magnitude difference corresponds to a specific brightness ratio. A difference of 1 magnitude corresponds to a brightness ratio of about 2.512.
* Brighter Stars Have Lower Magnitudes: This might seem counterintuitive, but the lower the magnitude number, the brighter the star.
Calculating the Brightness Difference:
A third magnitude star is one magnitude brighter than a fourth magnitude star. This means it is about 2.512 times brighter.
In Summary: The magnitude system uses a logarithmic scale, so a one-magnitude difference translates to a brightness ratio of approximately 2.512, not a factor of 10.
