What is the intrinsic energy output capability of a star fixed by, according to its observable properties?
Answer
Its mass and age
A star possesses an intrinsic luminosity, which describes the actual total amount of energy it radiates into space. This inherent characteristic—the star's fundamental power—is not dependent on how far away it is from an observer, but rather is fixed by two intrinsic physical properties established during its life cycle: its initial mass when formed, and its current age. While distance affects the *intensity* we measure, the total energy the star is capable of radiating is dictated by these internal parameters.
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