Expert: Philip Stahl - 3/28/2007

Question
Hi, We are doing a project on stars.......we have been given a list of roughly 25 words related to stars and our teacher has requested that we sort them into three different categories based on the three different sizes of stars....However, no matter how hard we look, we cannot find any information on the "Three Star Size Categories"...Any Ideas?  Thanks for the help!

Answer
Hello,

Measuring stellar diameters is by no means an exact science, nor is it easy. It entails a lot of technical instruments (including Stellar Interferometers) and very complex methods.

In my opinion, it's not fair for students to simply be presented with the sort of data, information you have - and be expected to categorize it without more input from the teacher. (I am writing here as a person who actually had to train teachers in the teaching of astronomy).

At the very least, the teacher ought to have given you critical CRITERIA - or conditions to look for - that make it possible to group the stars by size. Not to tell you anything, and leave you to search on your own, when 99% of the information (especially online) is highly technical, is simply not fair.

I also disagree that there are even "three basic star sizes." In fact stars occur in *hundreds of different sizes*. And again, without further insight provided by your teacher, your task is next to impossible.

My answer then is to ask your teacher to provide you with more supplemental information, including key hints or clues - and also to at least provide DEFINITIONS (working ones) for these so-called "three star sizes."

Without this - and I am assuming you've given me all the facts, not left any out - you cannot be expected to finish this "project" to any reasonable standard!