The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a plot of
A) apparent brightness versus intrinsic brightness or luminosity of a group of stars.
B) luminosity versus period of variation for variable stars.
C) apparent brightness versus distance for stars near the Sun.
D) intrinsic brightness or luminosity versus temperature of a group of stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots the intrinsic brightness or luminosity of stars versus their temperature, known as the color index. This allows us to classify stars based on their spectral type and evolutionary stage.

The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Is a Plot of