color-magnitude diagram

A color-magnitude diagram is a scatter plot used by astronomers to illustrate the brightness (magnitude) of stars against their color, which indicates their temperature. On this chart, the horizontal axis represents color, with cooler stars on one side and hotter ones on the other. The vertical axis shows brightness, with brighter stars higher up. This diagram helps researchers understand stellar populations, evolutionary stages, and distances to star clusters. Essentially, it provides a visual representation of how stars vary in temperature and brightness, helping us learn more about their life cycles and characteristics.