What is the difference between apparent and absolute magnitude
http://www.phys.ksu.edu/personal/wysin/astro/magnitudes.html
The difference between apparent and absolute magnitude lies in how they measure the brightness of celestial objects, such as stars.
Apparent magnitude refers to how bright an object appears to an observer from a specific location, typically on Earth. It is a subjective measure influenced by the object's intrinsic brightness as well as its distance from the observer. The lower the apparent magnitude, the brighter the object appears to be in the sky. For example, the Sun has an apparent magnitude of -26.7, while the dimmest naked-eye stars have apparent magnitudes around +6.
On the other hand, absolute magnitude measures the intrinsic brightness of an object, specifically how bright it would appear if it were located at a standard distance. Absolute magnitude eliminates the distance factor, allowing astronomers to compare the true brightness of celestial objects. It is defined as the apparent magnitude an object would have if it were placed at a distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.6 light-years) from the observer. This standard distance allows for a consistent comparison of the luminosity of different stars, irrespective of their varying distances from Earth.
In summary, the apparent magnitude of an object refers to its observed brightness from Earth, while the absolute magnitude represents its inherent brightness if it were placed at a fixed distance.