Stars can necessarily be observed only at a distance. Comparing stars is a 16-hour course that introduces the HertzsprungRussell diagram, an essential tool in understanding the nature of stars. You should have some understanding of the basic stellar properties of luminosity and temperature in order to get the most from the course.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

- describe and comment on the main features of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of stars in general, and of stars in a cluster

-outline a broad model of stellar evolution based on the observed properties of large numbers of stars, and describe how stars of different initial mass might evolve

- describe the effects of interstellar material on starlight, and outline some of the processes by which such material might be a source of electromagnetic radiation.