<p>With the <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2018/08/aa32843-18/aa32843-18.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gaia Data Release 2</a>, you can plot an HR diagram with a few million stars. From the <a href="https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/gaiadr2_hrd" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gaia website</a> : </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QxxI3.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QxxI3.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>The data can be accessed in the <a href="https://gea.esac.esa.int/archive/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">search tab</a>, where you can specify the columns you want to display (<code>phot_bp_mean_mag</code> and <code>phot_rp_mean_mag</code>). There is a button at the bottom to export the results to a file on your computer. You can then plot one of the columns as a function of the difference between the other two. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T18:54:59.590Z
I'm thinking of updating the lab experiment I mentioned in comments to the OP with the DR2 data. The trouble is, it's too good and I want them to struggle to understand the selection effects and biases.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T15:18:43.070Z
2020-02-20T15:18:43.070Z
usernumber
<p>I teach statistics and study Astronomy.  I'd like to create an activity for my statistics students using star data.  They could enter the data into Excel and create an HR diagram.  We are currently studying Correlation &amp; Regression.  I wanted to show them that a scatter-plot can be VERY interesting.  </p>

<p>Where can I get stellar data that is already in a format that my students can use excel to create a scatter-plot?  Unbeknownst to them, they will create an HR diagram.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-17T17:42:39.277Z
Have a look at this. If you are interested I can give you the spreadsheet. This will need to be updated later this year to use the new Gaia results. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/24/2/303
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-18T19:51:16.890Z
@barrycarter What's your point? Are you claiming that the local population can't be used to create an HR diagram?
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T17:23:33.387Z
@barrycarter The incomplete spreadsheet I refer to above contains 1000 stars. You can construct even more incomplete larger samples. As I understood the question, the aim was to produce something that looks interesting and non-random and that is astrophysically significant.
ProfRob
<star><hr-diagram>
Creating an HR diagram from tabulated stellar data
Angharad
# Creating an HR diagram from tabulated stellar data

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-16)

I teach statistics and study Astronomy. I'd like to create an activity for my statistics students using star data. They could enter the data into Excel and create an HR diagram. We are currently studying Correlation & Regression. I wanted to show them that a scatter-plot can be VERY interesting.

Where can I get stellar data that is already in a format that my students can use excel to create a scatter-plot? Unbeknownst to them, they will create an HR diagram.

**Tags:** star, hr-diagram

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Have a look at this. If you are interested I can give you the spreadsheet. This will need to be updated later this year to use the new Gaia results. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/24/2/303  
> **username_1**: @barrycarter What's your point? Are you claiming that the local population can't be used to create an HR diagram?  
> **username_1**: @barrycarter The incomplete spreadsheet I refer to above contains 1000 stars. You can construct even more incomplete larger samples. As I understood the question, the aim was to produce something that looks interesting and non-random and that is astrophysically significant.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-20. Score: 2

With the [Gaia Data Release 2](https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2018/08/aa32843-18/aa32843-18.html), you can plot an HR diagram with a few million stars. From the [Gaia website](https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/gaiadr2_hrd) :

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QxxI3.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/QxxI3.png)

The data can be accessed in the [search tab](https://gea.esac.esa.int/archive/), where you can specify the columns you want to display (`phot_bp_mean_mag` and `phot_rp_mean_mag`). There is a button at the bottom to export the results to a file on your computer. You can then plot one of the columns as a function of the difference between the other two.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm thinking of updating the lab experiment I mentioned in comments to the OP with the DR2 data. The trouble is, it's too good and I want them to struggle to understand the selection effects and biases.  

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