Which two stellar properties does the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram plot?
Answer
Luminosity against its temperature (or color)
The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a fundamental diagnostic tool in stellar astrophysics, used to visualize the relationship between a star's inherent energy output and its surface characteristics. Specifically, it graphs a star's luminosity, which measures its total energy radiated per unit time, against its effective surface temperature, which is directly correlated with its visible color. Stars spend most of their active lives, the main sequence phase, along a distinct diagonal band on this diagram, and deviations from this band indicate later stages of evolution.
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