Comparing the Nearest and Brightest Stars Using the Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
Introduction The Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, commonly called the H–R diagram, is one of the most important tools used to classify and understand stars. It plots stellar luminosity or absolute brightness on the vertical axis and surface temperature, spectral type, or color on the horizontal axis. In most versions of the diagram, luminosity increases upward, while temperature decreases from left to right. Hot blue stars therefore appear toward the left side, whereas

