The Astrology of Space - Matrix Software

The Astrology of Space
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is said to be the
most important in all astronomy. It is a graph obtained
by plotting the luminosities versus the temperatures of
stars. As shown in the diagram, the luminosities are
measured along the vertical axis and the surface
temperature or spectral type along the horizontal axis.
Every star for which the luminosity and temperature
are known can be represented in this graph. Notice
that the stars are not scattered in a random fashion
over the diagram, but are grouped in three main
regions.
This tells us that there is a precise relationship
between the temperature and luminosity of stars.
Most stars are located along the main sequence that
runs diagonally from the hot & bright stars in the
upper left to the cool & dim stars in the lower right.
Our sun is near the middle of the main sequence.
145