stellarscale

Stellarscale is a term used to describe a proposed framework for quantifying and comparing stars by intrinsic properties such as luminosity, mass, and temperature. It is not a standardized measure in mainstream astronomy, but appears in some scholarly discussions and science fiction glossaries as a way to condense diverse stellar characteristics into a single reference index.

In its most common conceptual form, stellarscale is a logarithmic, dimensionless index normalized so that a reference star, typically the Sun, has a value of 1. Variants of the idea treat stellarscale as a luminosity-based scale (often related to or mapped against the solar luminosity, Lsun) or as a composite index that blends luminosity with effective temperature and mass to reflect aspects like energy output and the extent of the star’s habitable zone. Some proposals emphasize practical uses such as rapid comparisons of brightness among stars or as a worldbuilding device in fiction to describe different stellar environments.

Usage of stellarscale remains informal and non-standard. In scientific contexts, conventional measures such as absolute magnitude, bolometric magnitude, and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram provide standardized frameworks for comparing stellar properties. Stellarscale, when referenced, is typically described as a conceptual or narrative tool rather than a strictly defined physical quantity.

See also: Absolute magnitude, Bolometric magnitude, Luminosity, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Stellar evolution.