Hertzsprung

Definition

Hertzsprung, along with Russell, developed the Hertzsprung-Russell (H–R) Diagram, a pivotal tool in astronomy. This diagram plots stars by their luminosity and temperature, revealing patterns that help classify stars at different stages of their lifecycle.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ejnar Hertzsprung was a Danish astronomer who co-created the H–R Diagram with Henry Norris Russell.
2. The H–R Diagram is used to categorize stars into groups such as main sequence stars, giants, and white dwarfs.
3. Hertzsprung's work helped establish that giant stars are cooler but more luminous than main sequence stars.
4. The horizontal axis of the H–R Diagram represents the star's temperature or spectral class.
5. The vertical axis of the H–R Diagram represents the star's luminosity or absolute magnitude.

Review Questions

• Who co-developed the H–R Diagram alongside Ejnar Hertzsprung?
• What does the horizontal axis on the H–R Diagram represent?
• How did Hertzsprung's contributions aid in classifying different types of stars?

Related terms

Henry Norris Russell: An American astronomer who co-created the H–R Diagram with Ejnar Hertzsprung.

Main Sequence:

A continuous band on the H–R Diagram where most stars, including our Sun, lie during the majority of their lifecycle.

Luminosity:

A measure of how much light a star emits from its surface; plotted on the vertical axis of the H–R Diagram.