Interstellar Dust Cloud Mapping Lab

Laboratory Procedure

Please see the printed lab instructions.

Stellar data

The following file lists observational data for a set of stars lying behind an interstellar cloud. Use these data to determine the cloud properties by following the lab procedure. In order to obtain minimally accurate results, you will need to use at least 20 stars, but you're welcome to use more.

• observational data

Lookup Tables

These files tabulate M_V absolute magnitude and B-V intrinsic color index for different spectral types (i.e., spectral class + luminosity class combination). Use these with the stellar data above to estimate the interstellar reddening toward each star.

• M_V table
• B-V table

References

• Absolute Magnitude vs. Spectral Type (PDF; Lang 1992, pp 137-146)

• Color Index vs. Spectral Type (PDF; Lang 1992, pp 149-153)

• Stellar Parameters vs. Spectral Type (GIF; Bradt 2008, Table 4.2)

• Photometric Colors of Different Stellar Types (PDF; Mihalas + Binney 1981, pp 108-121)

• UBV Photometric Filter Response vs. Wavelength (JPG; Carroll + Ostlie 2007, Figure 3-10)

• Photometric Colors, Absolute Magnitudes, and Other Properties vs. Spectral Type (PDF; Zombeck 1990 compilation, pp. 68-75)