You're asking about apparent magnitude, which is a measure of how bright a star appears from Earth.

Here's how it works:

* Lower numbers mean brighter stars: A star with a magnitude of 1 is brighter than a star with a magnitude of 2, and so on.

* Negative magnitudes are even brighter: The brightest stars have negative magnitudes.

So, to answer your question directly:

* 1st magnitude: This is a moderately bright star, easily visible to the naked eye. Examples include Sirius, Vega, and Arcturus.

* 2nd magnitude: These stars are slightly fainter than 1st magnitude stars. Examples include Castor, Pollux, and Deneb.

* 3rd magnitude: These are fainter still, but still easily visible under dark skies. Examples include Altair, Algol, and Bellatrix.

Important Note: This system is a bit counterintuitive! A lower magnitude means a brighter star. It's like saying a "1st place" winner is better than a "2nd place" winner.