10.0 Learning Objectives

In this chapter, students will learn how to:

• Identify the different types of star clusters.
• Explain the concept of parallax and how it is used to determine the distances to nearby stars.
• Define luminosity in the context of stars and explain how it is measured.
• Summarize the challenges astronomers face when measuring apparent brightness and determining distances to stars.
• Calculate the luminosity of a star given its apparent brightness and distance from Earth.
• Evaluate the impact of different types of stars on the detectability of exoplanets using direct imaging and transit methods.
• Identify the defining characteristics of a brown dwarf, including its energy source and temperature range, and explain why brown dwarfs are difficult to observe and why their detection required the development of specific observational tools and techniques.