standard candle

noun

: candela

Examples of standard candle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These cosmic explosions are called type Ia supernovas, and their light output is so uniform that these events are referred to as standard candles. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Such supernovae also function as standard candles whose absolute luminosity is correlated with their evanescent, varying brightness; the Cepheids, whose distances can be calculated, are used to calibrate the absolute luminosity of the supernovae. — Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2025

First astronomers identify some type of star with a predictable brightness—a standard candle—that is close enough in our galaxy to directly measure its distance, for example from its apparent motion as Earth orbits the Sun. — Bydaniel Clery, science.org, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for standard candle

• panhandle
• handle
• sandal
• scandal
• vandal