<p><a href="http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/">VizieR</a> is an online source for all sorts of astronomical data published in scientific papers. As you mentioned, The <a href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997yCat.1239....0E">HIPPARCOS catalogue</a> contains visual magnitude data.</p>

<ol>
<li>Open the query page for the <a href="http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=I/239/hip_main">main HIPPARCOS catalogue</a> </li>
<li>Select the fields you want (defaults are ok for you)</li>
<li>Hit submit to see the results</li>
<li>You can limit the number of results and format under <em>Preferences</em> on the left</li>
</ol>

<p>This table gives you the measured visual magnitude, i.e. the <strong>Apparent Magnitude</strong> ($m_V$, <code>V</code> column). To convert that into <strong>Absolute Magnitude</strong> ($M_V$) you need to know the distance to the star. This can be calculated using the <strong>Parallax</strong> field (<code>Plx</code> column).</p>

<p>Here's the formula for you:</p>

<p>$$M_V = m_V + 5 * log_{10}( Plx / 100 )$$</p>

<p>You can easily dump the data into Excel or something, put a formula into an extra column and calculate the <strong>Absolute Magnitude</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-23T21:22:51.027Z
You might also check out the Extended Hipparcos catalog ([XHIP](http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat?V/137D)). The main.dat file contains luminosities, spectral types, and temperatures, and the photo.dat file contains absolute magnitudes in Johnson bands. References are at the top of the linked page.
Scott Griffiths
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T05:54:10.253Z
2014-02-22T05:54:10.253Z
Carl
<p>I have found next list based on HIPPARCOS data:
<a href="http://www.astro.lu.se/~lennart/MVstars.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.astro.lu.se/~lennart/MVstars.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T00:35:38.370Z
2014-02-22T00:35:38.370Z
user2579566
<p>For me, the best and most reliable source of absolute magnitudes and spectral types is the book <a href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu//abs/2000asqu.book.....C" rel="nofollow">Allen's astrophysical quantities</a>.</p>

<p>Chapter 15, called Normal Stars, contains spectral types, absolute magnitudes, colors and effective temperatures for main sequence, giant and supergiant stars. The references are at the end of the chapter.</p>

<p>HTH,</p>

<p>Germán.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-18T13:46:08.713Z
4th edition of the book (2000) also uses old data. It's easy to check.
user2579566
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-18T20:48:34.267Z
How do you check then?
skytux
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-19T18:28:41.053Z
Just read the book )
user2579566
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-20T00:47:52.893Z
I _use_ that book for my scientific research :)
skytux
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-11T13:00:24.423Z
Sure! But this is old data (as I remember around 1970). I tried to find new.
user2579566
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-11T13:58:06.427Z
4th edition of the book is from 2000. If you know anything newer than that, please make me know :)
skytux
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-10T23:24:06.343Z
2014-12-10T23:24:06.343Z
skytux
<p>Where to find comprehensive list of absolute magnitudes for stars of different spectral types?  I need published paper or web page with data and reference to the source.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-20T04:47:27.920Z
Third entry on a google search: http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1935ApJ....81..187A/0000197.000.html
Marc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-20T05:01:46.257Z
No, I need something like this http://www.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/Notes/section2/spectraltemps.html but with reference to the source.
user2579566
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-20T08:13:34.780Z
everything you need to know about different spectral types: http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Gray/frames.html but maybe thats a bit too much info?
usethedeathstar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T00:31:06.997Z
Thanks! But this is more useful for me: http://www.astro.lu.se/~lennart/MVstars.html
user2579566
<star>
Absolute magnitudes of stars
user2579566
# Absolute magnitudes of stars

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-19)

Where to find comprehensive list of absolute magnitudes for stars of different spectral types? I need published paper or web page with data and reference to the source.

**Tags:** star

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Third entry on a google search: http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1935ApJ....81..187A/0000197.000.html  
> **username_0**: No, I need something like this http://www.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/Notes/section2/spectraltemps.html but with reference to the source.  
> **username_2**: everything you need to know about different spectral types: http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Gray/frames.html but maybe thats a bit too much info?  
> **username_0**: Thanks! But this is more useful for me: http://www.astro.lu.se/~lennart/MVstars.html  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-02-22. Score: 6

[VizieR](http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/) is an online source for all sorts of astronomical data published in scientific papers. As you mentioned, The [HIPPARCOS catalogue](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997yCat.1239....0E) contains visual magnitude data.

1. Open the query page for the [main HIPPARCOS catalogue](http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=I/239/hip_main)
2. Select the fields you want (defaults are ok for you)
3. Hit submit to see the results
4. You can limit the number of results and format under *Preferences* on the left

This table gives you the measured visual magnitude, i.e. the **Apparent Magnitude** ($m\_V$, `V` column). To convert that into **Absolute Magnitude** ($M\_V$) you need to know the distance to the star. This can be calculated using the **Parallax** field (`Plx` column).

Here's the formula for you:

$$M\_V = m\_V + 5 \* log\_{10}( Plx / 100 )$$

You can easily dump the data into Excel or something, put a formula into an extra column and calculate the **Absolute Magnitude**.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: You might also check out the Extended Hipparcos catalog ([XHIP](http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat?V/137D)). The main.dat file contains luminosities, spectral types, and temperatures, and the photo.dat file contains absolute magnitudes in Johnson bands. References are at the top of the linked page.  

---

### Answer by username_0 on 2014-02-22. Score: 1

I have found next list based on HIPPARCOS data:
<http://www.astro.lu.se/~lennart/MVstars.html>


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-12-10. Score: 1

For me, the best and most reliable source of absolute magnitudes and spectral types is the book [Allen's astrophysical quantities](http://adsabs.harvard.edu//abs/2000asqu.book.....C).

Chapter 15, called Normal Stars, contains spectral types, absolute magnitudes, colors and effective temperatures for main sequence, giant and supergiant stars. The references are at the end of the chapter.

HTH,

Germán.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Sure! But this is old data (as I remember around 1970). I tried to find new.  
> **username_5**: 4th edition of the book is from 2000. If you know anything newer than that, please make me know :)  
> **username_0**: 4th edition of the book (2000) also uses old data. It's easy to check.  
> **username_5**: How do you check then?  
> **username_0**: Just read the book )  
> **username_5**: I _use_ that book for my scientific research :)  

---

