Properties of Stars
- We measure
Brightness B or apparent magnitude
Distance d
Color Index B - V or spectral class OBAFGKMLT
Orbital parameters of binary systems
- From these we infer
Luminosity L or absolute magnitude
Surface temperature T
Radius R
Mass M
Average density 
- We seek correlations by plotting
Absolute magnitude or luminosity vs. color index or spectral class
(Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram) (interactive version)
Mass vs. luminosity
(Mass-luminosity relation)
For further information on stars, see the Stars website of Prof. James B. Kaler of the University of Illinois.
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