Is this the correct representation for showing the direction of a star on CMD?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter hraghav
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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the representation of a star's movement on the Colour-Magnitude Diagram (CMD) due to extinction effects, specifically for an extinction value of Av = 1.0. Participants confirm that the red arrow indicating the star's direction is correct, illustrating that the star moves upwards (dimmer) and to the right (redder) on the CMD. Key concepts include the use of the dust law R_V, with a local value of approximately 3, and the importance of understanding intrinsic color and magnitude when determining coordinates on the CMD.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Colour-Magnitude Diagrams (CMD)
  • Familiarity with extinction and its effects on stellar observations
  • Knowledge of the dust law R_V and its application
  • Basic concepts of stellar photometry, including magnitude and flux
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the application of the dust law R_V in different astronomical contexts
  • Learn how to calculate intrinsic color and magnitude of stars
  • Explore the effects of varying extinction values on CMD representations
  • Study the relationship between observed flux and magnitude in photometric measurements
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy students, astrophysicists, and anyone studying stellar evolution and photometric analysis will benefit from this discussion.

hraghav
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Homework Statement: Effects of extinction in the Colour- Magnitude Diagram (CMD) of NGC 5139;
Since extinction affects the position of a star on both the x-axis and y-axis, then draw an arrow that shows the direction a star moves on the CMD for Av = 1.0
Relevant Equations: No equations are needed for this

IMG-20241201-WA0000.jpg

Is the red arrow marking the star's direction correctly for Av = 1 magnitude? Im a little confused with this, also is there any other points we could keep in mind while doing such problems?
Thank you
 
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= (reddening, dimming)
= (##\Delta(B-V)##, ##\Delta m_V##)
= (##A_V/R_V##, ##A_V##)
= (##1/R_V##, ##1##)

If you want the slope you need the dust law ##R_V##
You can use a local R_V ~ 3
 
ergospherical said:
= (reddening, dimming)
= (##\Delta(B-V)##, ##\Delta m_V##)
= (##A_V/R_V##, ##A_V##)
= (##1/R_V##, ##1##)

If you want the slope you need the dust law ##R_V##
You can use a local R_V ~ 3
What would the coordinates be for the initial and final positions of B-V and mv?
I know that initial position of B-V is 0.333 but how would I find its final position since I do not know what (B-V)not is. Also as -1 is not on the scale of mv how would I choose the coordinates for mv?
 
The start coordinates whatever are the intrinsic color and magnitude of the star. When we see the star from Earth, we get reddening and dimming effects due to the dust. The position of the star on the CMD appears to shift by the vector (##\Delta##color, ##\Delta##magnitude).
 
ergospherical said:
The start coordinates whatever are the intrinsic color and magnitude of the star. When we see the star from Earth, we get reddening and dimming effects due to the dust. The position of the star on the CMD appears to shift by the vector (##\Delta##color, ##\Delta##magnitude).
So my arrow marking location would be an appropriate representation of the direction since the star does travel upwards as it gets dimmer and towards the right as it gets redder?
 
An oddity of astronomy is that dimmer ==> larger m_V.
It's because m_V := C - 2.5 log (F),
(F being observed flux)

So you need to be careful to figure out which way the star goes. It doesn't help that astronomers like to write the scales upside down either
 

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