Properties of Stars Name: _________________________Hr________

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, or H-R diagram, is a graph in which a star’s temperature is plotted against its absolute magnitude. From such a diagram, other information about a star’s properties and life cycle can be determined. A simplified H-R diagram appears in your textbook (Figure 21.6, page 382). In this lab, you will construct an H-R diagram using data on the 20 stars that are nearest to our sun (Figure 21.1) and the 20 stars that appear brightest in our sky (Figure 21.2). Then you will use the finished diagram and your notes to describe the properties and life cycles of the stars. In the tables in Figures 21.1 and 21.2, the unit used for distance is the parsec.