What diagram plots luminosity versus surface temperature for main sequence stars?

Answer

Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram.

The primary tool astronomers use to classify and understand the relationships between stellar properties is the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram. This specialized two-dimensional graph plots the absolute brightness of stars, referred to as luminosity, against their surface temperature, often represented by spectral class. Main sequence stars do not scatter randomly across this diagram but instead form a distinctive, continuous diagonal band. This specific arrangement indicates that for any given star on the main sequence, its position is almost entirely predetermined by just two fundamental characteristics: its initial mass and its initial chemical composition. Variations in internal structure or metallicity cause slight shifts, but the overall diagonal correlation remains the hallmark of hydrogen-fusing stars.

What diagram plots luminosity versus surface temperature for main sequence stars?

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physicsastronomystarmain-sequence