Star properties

Front

What is a star?

Back

A ball of hot gas, primarily hydrogen and helium, that undergoes nuclear fusion.

Front

What does revolution mean in an astronomical context?

Back

The movement of an object around another object.

Front

What is apparent magnitude?

Back

The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth.

Front

What does the H-R Diagram represent?

Back

A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars.

Front

What is absolute magnitude?

Back

The true brightness of a star.

Front

What are the primary components of a star?

Back

Hydrogen and helium.

Front

How does nuclear fusion occur in stars?

Back

Through the process of combining lighter atomic nuclei into heavier ones, releasing energy.

Front

What is the significance of a star's temperature?

Back

It determines the star's color and position on the H-R Diagram.

Front

What is the difference between apparent and absolute magnitude?

Back

Apparent magnitude is how bright a star appears from Earth, while absolute magnitude is its true brightness at a standard distance.

Front

What is the main sequence in the H-R Diagram?

Back

A continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness.