Figure 17-14: Finding Key Properties of a Nearby Star This flowchart shows how astronomers determine the properties of a relatively nearby star (one close enough that its parallax can be measured). The rounded purple boxes show the measurements that must be made of the star, the blue ovals show the key equations that are used (from Sections 17-2, 17-5, and 17-6), and the green rectangles show the inferred properties of the stars. A different procedure is followed for more distant stars

(see Section 17-8, especially Figure 17-17).