How is stellar mass conventionally quantified relative to our Sun for calculation purposes?
Answer
Expressed in units of solar mass, denoted as $m_ ext{odot}$
When determining the mass of individual stars or binary systems, astronomers utilize a standardized comparative unit based on the mass of our own Sun. This convention designates the Sun's mass as one solar mass, symbolized as $m_ ext{odot}$. This relative measurement allows for easy comparison across different stars. For instance, Sirius is noted to possess slightly more than two solar masses, while extremely large objects like Eta Carinae range between 100 and 150 solar masses, providing a clear scale for stellar abundance.
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