In astronomy, photometry, from Greek photo- ("light") and -metry ("measure"), is a technique used in astronomy that is concerned with measuring the flux or intensity of light radiated by astronomical objects. This light is measured through a telescope using a photometer, often made using electronic devices such as a CCD photometer or a photoelectric photometer that converts light into an electric current by the photoelectric effect. When calibrated against standard stars of known intensity and colour, photometers can measure the brightness or apparent magnitude of celestial objects.
Kepler Mission space photometer
AERONET photometer
Apparent magnitude is a measure of the brightness of a star or other astronomical object to an observer on Earth. An object's apparent magnitude depends on its intrinsic luminosity, its distance, and any extinction of the object's light caused by interstellar dust along the line of sight to the observer.
Asteroid 65 Cybele and two stars, with their magnitudes labeled
Image of 30 Doradus taken by ESO's VISTA. This nebula has a visual magnitude of 8.