What is the absolute magnitude of the Sun?

The absolute magnitude of the Sun is a measure of its brightness as if it were placed at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.6 light-years) from Earth. The absolute magnitude specifically refers to the intrinsic luminosity of a star without the interference of distance or atmospheric effects.

The accepted value of the Sun's absolute magnitude is approximately 4.83. This places it within the range of 4.8 to 4.9, which is why the choice that specifies this range is correct. This is important because it allows astronomers to compare the brightness of stars objectively, regardless of how far away they are.

Understanding the absolute magnitude helps illuminate differences in the luminosity of stars, which ultimately informs various astrophysical studies, such as those concerning stellar evolution and the characteristics of other celestial bodies.