Demonstrations: H-R Diagram Explorer

Stellar Properties

As mentioned before, values such as B-V color index and absolute magnitude correspond to stellar properties such as temperature and luminosity. These direct relationships are also seen in the H-R diagram and tables below.

H-R diagram
Image credit: ESA

Stars of the same B-V value have the same spectral type and the same temperature T (in units of Kelvin):

Color Index B-V Associated Spectral Type Associated Temperature T (K)
-0.33 O5 44,500
-0.32 O8 35,800
-0.30 B0 30,000
-0.17 B5 15,400
-0.02 A0 9520
0.30 F0 7200
0.58 G0 6030
0.81 K0 5250
1.15 K5 4350
1.40 M0 3850
1.64 M5 3240
1.93 M8 2640

 

Stars of the same absolute magnitude (MV) value have the same luminosity L (in units of solar luminosities):

Absolute Magnitude MV Associated Luminosity L (LSUN)
-9 160,000
-8 105,000
-7 25,000
-5.7 11,000
-4.9 4000
-4.0 1600
-1.2 130
-0.6 54
2.7 6.5
4.4 1.5
5.9 0.42
7.4 0.15
8.8 0.077
12.3 0.011
16.0 0.0012