| Hertzsprung-Russell diagram [`hert·spru̇ŋ `rǝs·ǝl `dī·ǝ´gram] ASTRONOMY A plot showing the relation between the luminosity and surface temperature of stars; other related quantities frequently used in plotting this diagram are the absolute magnitude for luminosity, and spectral type or color index for the surface temperatures. Abbreviated H-R diagram. Also known as Russell diagram. |