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I was doing some research and found that the zero-point luminosity was $L_\odot = 3.75\times 10^{28} $, while the sun's reported luminosity was $L_{Sun} = 3.828\times 10^{26}$, according to Wikipedia. Why isn't it the same value? Doesn't the symbol $\odot$ represent the value of our sun?

Furthermore, when Googling the Luminosity of the sun, it gives $1L_\odot$, which suggests that $L_{Sun} = L_\odot$ when it is evidently not. What's going on here? I'm very confused.

For background, I have little to no background knowledge of astrophysics, and I'm trying to learn about it.

Thanks.

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    $\begingroup$ Could you link/clarify what the 'zero point luminosity' is? I'm not familiar with the concept myself. Also units should always be added for any physical quantities. $\endgroup$
    – AtmosphericPrisonEscape
    Aug 16, 2019 at 11:26
  • $\begingroup$ @Anurag Do you mean the zero point of the absolute magnitude scale? $\endgroup$
    – SpaceCore
    Aug 16, 2019 at 12:59
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    $\begingroup$ $L_{\odot}$ is the bolometric luminosity of the Sun. I don't know where you get $3.75 \times 10^{28}$ W from? $\endgroup$
    – ProfRob
    Aug 16, 2019 at 14:11
  • $\begingroup$ What units are these two values in? Are they both in Watts? If not, they could be equivalent, but using different unit systems. $\endgroup$
    – HDE 226868 ♦
    Aug 16, 2019 at 15:34

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The zero point luminosity L0 is the luminosity of a star whose absolute bolometric magnitude Mbol is 0. IAU recommends the value L0 = 3.0128 × 1028 W. If the Sun's Mbol is +4.74, then L0 / Lsun = 104.74 / 2.5 = 78.7, which is consistent with Lsun = 3.828 × 1026 W.

Your understanding that Lsun ≡ L☉ is correct. Maybe there was an accidental substitution of L☉ for L0 at some point. Curiously, the number 3.75 × 1028 appears in the Wikipedia:Sun sidebar as the Sun's luminous flux in lumens, a quantity more applicable to a light bulb than to a star.

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