SCIENCE EARTH AND SPACE QUIZ 34 (SECTION 10.6)

white dwarfs

a group of small, dim stars outside the main sequence

size

characteristic that makes giants and supergiants extremely bright

sunspots

dark patches on the sun caused by the sun's magnetic field

filament

feature of the sun's surface that is the same as a solar prominence but viewed from a different angle

stellar parallax

half the angle that the star appears to move on the celestial sphere when viewed from opposite sides of Earth's orbit

supergranules

larger-than-normal convection cells that cover the sun's surface and last from 12 to 24 hours

surface temperature

primary factor that determines a star's color

transition region

the thin layer of the sun's atmosphere that releases ultraviolet radiation

photosphere

the visible surface of the sun

temperature and size

two main characteristics that influence a star's absolute magnitude