What can I derive from a star by knowing its apparent magnitude?

I've got the program Stellarium and it gives me the apparent magnitude of the star but I believe I need to derive the absolute magnitude in order to find its distance, right? What else could I derive from? Color, perhaps? I'd also like the formula please :D



ThanksWhat can I derive from a star by knowing its apparent magnitude?The formula :

m - M = 5[log d(pc) - 1]

where

m = Apparent magnitude

M = Absolute magnitude (if placed at a standard distance of 10 pc)

d(pc) = distance in pc (parsecs)

1 pc = 3.26161 LY



Of the three m. M %26amp; d if two are known the third can befound out. Apparent magnitude by itself doesn't give much information. It only places the stars as they appear. Colour is not dealt here. It is different.What can I derive from a star by knowing its apparent magnitude?I don't think you can derive anything from apparent magnitude by itself. You need to know either the absolute mag, or the distance.

infiniti g37