Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Temperature 25,000 10,000 6,000 3,000
Luminosity 10-⁴ 10-² 1 10² 10⁴ 10⁶

hot bright

cool, dim

cool, bright

hot, dim

1 answer

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between their luminosity and their surface temperature (or color). In general, the H-R diagram is divided into several regions based on the properties of stars. Here's how the categories you've mentioned fit into the H-R diagram:

  1. Hot and Bright Stars:

    • These stars are found in the upper left portion of the H-R diagram. They have high temperatures (greater than 20,000 Kelvin) and high luminosities.
    • Examples include O-type and B-type stars.
  2. Cool and Dim Stars:

    • These stars occupy the lower right portion of the H-R diagram. They have low temperatures (around 3,000 Kelvin) and low luminosities.
    • Examples include M-type stars or red dwarfs.
  3. Cool and Bright Stars:

    • These stars can be found in the upper right portion of the H-R diagram. They have low temperatures but high luminosities, often due to their large size (they are typically giants or supergiants).
    • Examples include red giants and supergiants.
  4. Hot and Dim Stars:

    • These stars are located in the lower left portion of the H-R diagram. They have high temperatures but low luminosities, often because they are small in size (such as white dwarfs).
    • Examples include white dwarfs.

Summary:

  • Hot and Bright: Upper left (O/B-type stars)
  • Cool and Dim: Lower right (M-type stars/red dwarfs)
  • Cool and Bright: Upper right (giants/supergiants)
  • Hot and Dim: Lower left (white dwarfs)

These categories help astronomers classify stars based on their temperature, luminosity, and evolutionary stage.