Calculating solar mass using luminosity

[zircher]

Okie dokie, I searched the web and found L=M ^ 3.5 (luminosity equals mass to the power of 3.5). But, I'm pretty clueless on anything beyond Algebra I. How do I solve for M if I know L? [If the answer can be expressed in Visual Basic syntax, all the better.]

I also read several caveats that said the above formula works best for main sequence stars. Does anyone know of better of formula for sub-dwarfs, dwarfs, giants, and super giants? I'm pulling my numbers from a sub-set of the Hipparcos data. So, from absolute magnitude, I can calculate luminosity, but I get stuck after that.

My goal is to calculate solar mass and plug that into Accrete so I can create a fictional but semi-realistic star atlas for hard sci-fi games.

Along a similar line, I've seen some sites that says Accrete is fairly dated as far as solar system modelling goes. Has anyone written a successor to Accrete that is available to the public?
--
TAZ

 

[ohwilleke]

A scientific calculator should be able to find the 3.5th root of luminosity without difficulty. I would imagine that the formula would be something along the line of L^-3.5=M, but I'm not a Visual Basic user. I also suspect that you could simply find a direct list of stellar masses in any number of references.

 

[Chronos]

Use a logarithm table. Powers and roots are simple when working with log values.

 

[ohwilleke]

Good point Chronos. So you would start with X=Log(L)/3.5
Then M=INV LOG(X).

 

[zircher]

Thanks for the prompt replies, guys. I'll give them a try. The list of stellar masses has merit, but I need to populate 59,000 solar systems and most lists only have a handful of stars. But, I can use them to check my math now that I have something to work with.
--
TAZ

 

[tony873004]

M=L^(1/3.5)

But what units are you using for M and L?

 

[zircher]

Mass of Sol = 1 and Luminosity of Sol = 1. So a star with an Absolute Magnitude of zero whould be 100 times brighter than Sol.
--
TAZ