What is the name sometimes associated with the luminosity class Roman numeral system?
Answer
Yerkes Luminosity Classification
The system used by astronomers to assign a luminosity class via Roman numerals (I through V, and sometimes D) is frequently referred to as the Yerkes Luminosity Classification. This system is crucial because it differentiates stars based on their size and energy output—their intrinsic brightness—which is independent of their surface temperature alone. For example, a red giant (large, cool) and a hot dwarf (small, hot) could have similar temperatures but vastly different luminosities, necessitating this secondary classification.
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