A difference in apparent brightness “by a factor of 5” is, approximately, an apparent magnitude difference of 1.75. The fifth root of 100 to the 1.75 power is 5.012. Your assessment of a 1.5 apparent magnitude difference is close enough for government work. Besides, Patrick, you probably did the calculation in your head and I did mine on a calculator. Dave On Jul 5, 2005, at 1:58 AM, Patrick Wiggins wrote:
One of the panelists in the most recent Deep Impact news conference noted that the comet brightened "by a factor of 5" after the impact. He then alluded to the graphic located at: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/Science/Deep_Impact/ NAC_Clear_Lightcurve_H.jpg
Could some of the science types on the list confirm or correct my guess that what all this means is that it brightened briefly by about 1.5 magnitudes?
Thanks,
Patrick
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