Final answer:
Characteristics such as mass, size, color, brightness, distance, and composition can differentiate star systems, making 'D. All of the above' the correct answer. These factors contribute to understanding a star's luminosity, temperature, chemical makeup, and motion in space.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics that can be used to differentiate star systems include mass, size, color, brightness, distance, and composition. Thus, the correct answer to the question is D. All of the above.
Stars vary in mass from small brown dwarfs to massive stars exceeding 100 times the mass of the Sun. This mass can influence a star’s brightness and lifespan, showing a strong mass-luminosity relationship. The size of a star can range from dwarf stars to supergiants and giants, which are distinguishable via their stellar spectra.
The color of a star is an indication of its temperature, with blue stars being hotter and red stars cooler, according to the spectral classes O, B, A, F, G, K, M, L, T, and Y. Brightness, or luminosity, is a result of a star’s intrinsic energy output, not just its proximity to Earth. Distance and composition are also critical; spectroscopy allows us to analyze a star’s chemical composition and ascertain its movement in space, while distance is an essential factor in understanding a star’s true brightness and size.