Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hertzsprung Russell Diagram

1. Why is the Hertzsprung - Russel Diagram important to the astronomy?
It groups stars according to luminosity and Spectral Class, color and temperature and absolute magnitude. It can be used to determine a Stars lifetime, its different stages. We have a star and need to know where it is.

2. What are the two qualities of a star does the HR Diagram measure, and how does the diagram do this ? The diagram plots the luminosity and temperature and absolute magnitude.


3. Where on the diagram would our sun be found?
Found along a region called main sequence. Main Sequence stars vary widely in effective temperature but the hotter they are, the more luminous they are, hence the main sequence tends to follow a band going from the bottom right to the top left. Middle of the diagram.