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Activity No. ____

CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF STARS

INTRODUCTION:

Stars are classified based on their luminosity, color, temperature, and size. While the
temperature of the star is related to its color, the apparent brightness varies with distance from
Earth. At the beginning of the 20th Century, Danish astronomer Ejnar Hertzsprung and U.S.
astronomer Henry Norris Russell visualized the relationships between the different temperatures
and sizes of stars. This graph has been named the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R).

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram plots the relationship between different star
characteristics, such as mass, color, luminosity, and temperature. The purpose of this activity is
to become familiar with the characteristics of stars, and how they relate to each other.

Medium
Stars

Figure 1. Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram

 A. Based on Figure 1, input the data needed on the different stars listed below.

Table 1. Stellar Classification Chart

Class Surface Temperature (in Kelvin) Color of a Star

O 25,000 – 50,000 Blue
B 11,000 – 24,999 Bluish White
A 7,500 – 10,999 White
F 6,000 – 7,499 Yellowish White
G 5,000 – 5,999 Yellow
K 3,500 – 4,999 Orange
M < 3,500 Red

Table 2. List of known stars and their different characteristics

Surface
Relative Stellar
Name of Star Temperature Color Luminosity Star Group
Mass Classification
(K)

Sun 5,000 Yellow 1 Medium Main Sequence G

Spica

Procyon B

Betelgeuse

Polaris
Proxima
Centauri
40 Eridani B

Sirius

Rigel

Aldebaran

B. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the four characteristics in which stars are classified on the H-R diagram?
 2. Which characteristic always increases with increasing mass? ___________________
3. Which characteristic is directly associated with surface temperature? _____________
4. What are star groups that relate to a star’s life cycle?

5. How are Polaris and the Sun similar? How are they different?

6. Fill in the table on the main sequence stars.

Table 3. Observed characteristics of Main Sequence Stars based on size.

Size of a Main Surface
Color Luminosity
Sequence Star Temperature (K)

Small

Medium

Massive

7. Our Sun is halfway through its lifecycle. Explain which stages it will evolve into during
the last half of its life.

8. Describe the process by which stars get their energy.