Absolute magnitudes of OB and Be stars based on Hipparcos parallaxes – III

The absolute visual magnitudes, M_V , of A–M stars are based on calculated Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes. The sample used consists of 30 986 unreddened and reddened A–M stars in luminosity classes Ia, Iab, Ib, II, III, IV and V. The colour excesses of the reddened stars were calculated using the mean colour indices, according to the SIMBAD data base and the intrinsic B − V values calibrated for the given spectral types and luminosity classes by Schmidt-Kaler. The values of the total-to-selective extinction,   R_V = A_V / E ( B − V )  , for all the reddened stars were calculated from previously published near-infrared photometric measurements. The calculated visual magnitudes, M_V , of A–M stars compare with the earlier determinations of Schmidt-Kaler. The mean absolute magnitudes published by Schmidt-Kaler are generally brighter (except for the stars in luminosity classes V and IV) than those determined in this paper.