Question

the chart below is referred to as a hertzsprung-russell diagram or a h-r diagram for short. the chart shows information for stars in our galaxy. examine it carefully to answer the questions below. which of the following stars, when viewed from 10 parsecs (32.6 light years) away, is less bright than our sun? aldebaran, sirius b, rigel, sirius a

Explanation:

Step1: Understand Absolute Magnitude

Absolute magnitude measures a star's brightness at 10 parsecs. Lower (more negative) values mean brighter; higher (more positive) mean dimmer. The Sun has an absolute magnitude around +4.83 (close to 5 on the chart).

Step2: Analyze Each Star

• Aldebaran: Absolute magnitude ~0 (brighter than Sun, since 0 < 5).
• Sirius B: Absolute magnitude ~+10 (dimmer than Sun, since 10 > 5).
• Rigel: Absolute magnitude ~-7 (brighter than Sun, -7 < 5).
• Sirius A: Absolute magnitude ~+1 (brighter than Sun, 1 < 5).

Answer:

Sirius B