Astar is a massive luminous spheroidastronomical object made ofplasma that is held together by its owngravity. Stars exhibit great diversity in their properties (such asmass,volume,velocity, stage instellar evolution, anddistance fromEarth) and some of the outliers are so disproportionate in comparison with the general population that they are considered extreme. This is a list of such stars.
Records that are regarded as authoritative and unlikely to change at any given point are recorded on a white background, while those that could change with new information and/or discoveries are recorded on a grey background.
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest star | Sun | 3rd century BC | 1AU | Our local star's distance was first determined in the 3rd century BC byAristarchus of Samos. | Reported for reference | ||
| Second-nearest star | Proxima Centauri | 1915 | 1.30pc | Also calledAlpha Centauri C, it is the outlying star in atrinary star system that includesAlpha Centauri A (Rigil Kentaurus) andAlpha Centauri B (Toliman). This is currently the nearest known neighbouring star to our own Sun. This star was discovered in 1915, and its parallax was determined at the time, when enough observations were established. | [NB 1] | [1][2] | List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs |
| Most distant individually seen star | WHL0137-LS (Earendel) | 2022 | z= 6.2 ± 0.1 12.9Gly | Most likely astar cluster.[3] | [4][5] | List of most distant stars | |
| Most distant star | Stars inMoM-z14 | 2025 | z= 14.44 13.53Gly (light travel distance) | [6] | List of the most distant astronomical objects | ||
| Most distant star gravitationally bound to Milky Way galaxy | ULAS J0015+01 | 2014 | 900,000 light-years | Located in the Milky Way's extremeouter halo, far beyond thegalactic disc. | [7] | ||
| Oldest star | 2MASS J18082002−5104378 | 2018 | 13.53 billion years | [8][9] | List of oldest stars | ||
| Youngest | Stars are being formed constantly in the universe so it is impossible to tell which star is the youngest. For information on the properties of newly formed stars, seeProtostar,Young stellar object andStar formation. | ||||||
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest extrasolar star | Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C) | 1915 | 1.30 parsecs (4.2 ly) | Before Proxima, the title had been held by Alpha Centauri A & B. | [NB 1][NB 2] | [10][11] | |
| Nearestred dwarf | Before Proxima, the title had been held byBarnard's Star. | ||||||
| Nearestdegenerate star | Sirius B | 1852 | 8.6 light-years (2.6 pc) | This is also thenearest white dwarf. | [NB 3] | ||
| Nearestsubdwarf | Kapteyn's Star | 1898 | 12.83 light-years (3.93 pc) | Kapteyn's star is either a sdM1subdwarf[12] or a M1.5Vmain-sequence star.[13][14]WISEA 1810−1010 is the nearest undisputed subdwarf, at 29.03 light-years (8.90 pc).[15] | [16] | ||
| Nearestsubgiant | Procyon | 11.5 light-years (3.5 pc) | All stars closer to the Sun are main sequence, degenerate stars or brown dwarfs. | ||||
| Nearest giant star | Pollux | 33.8 light-years (10.4 pc) | List of nearest giant stars | ||||
| Nearestsupergiant | Epsilon Leonis | 247 light-years (76 pc) | While being agiant star based on spectrum, in evolutionary terms the star is a supergiant.[17] | List of nearest supergiants | |||
| Nearesthypergiant | μ Cephei(Garnet Star) | 3,060 light-years (940 pc) | [18] | ||||
| Nearestcarbon star | CW Leonis | 310 light-years (95 pc) | |||||
| NearestM-type star | Proxima Centauri | 1915 | 1.30 parsecs (4.2 ly) | List of nearest M-type stars | |||
| NearestK-type star | Alpha Centauri B | 1.33 parsecs (4.3 ly) | List of nearest K-type stars | ||||
| Nearest G-type star | Sun | 1 AU | List of nearest G-type stars | ||||
| NearestF-type star | Procyon | 11.46 light-years (3.51 pc) | [19] | List of nearest F-type stars | |||
| NearestA-type star | Sirius | 8.6 light-years (2.6 pc) | List of nearest A-type stars | ||||
| NearestB-type star | Regulus | 79.3 light-years (24.3 pc) | [20] | List of nearest B-type stars | |||
| NearestO-type star | Zeta Ophiuchi | 420 light-years (130 pc) | [21] | List of nearest O-type stars | |||
| NearestWolf–Rayet star | Gamma Velorum | 1,080 light-years (330 pc) | |||||
| Nearestneutron star | RX J1856.35-3754 | 2000 | 400 light-years (120 pc) | [22][23][24] | |||
| Nearestwhite dwarf | Sirius B | 1852 | 8.6 light-years (2.6 pc) | Sirius B is also the second white dwarf discovered, after40 Eridani B. | [10][25][26] | ||
| Nearestbrown dwarf | Luhman 16 | 2013 | 6.5 light-years (2.0 pc) | This is a pair of brown dwarfs in a binary system, with no other stars. | [27] | ||
| Nearestluminous blue variable | P Cygni | 5,251 light-years (1,610 pc) | [28] |
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightest star from theEarth:Apparent magnitude | Sun | prehistoric | m=−26.74 | Reported for reference [NB 4][NB 5] | |||
| Brightest star other than the Sun | Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris) | prehistoric | m= −1.46 | See also:Historical brightest stars | [NB 4][NB 5][NB 6] | List of brightest stars | |
| Dimmest star from the Earth | UDF 2457 | m= 25 | [NB 4][NB 5] | ||||
| Brightest star in a transient event | Progenitor ofSN 1006 | 1006 | m= −7.5 | This was asupernova, and itsremnant (SNR) is catalogued asPKS 1459-41. | [NB 1][NB 4][NB 5] | [29] | |
| Most luminous star | LGGS J004246.86+413336.4 | 2022 | L= 19,953,000 LSun | [30] | List of most luminous stars | ||
| Least luminous star | 2MASS J0523−1403 | 2013 | L=0.000126LSun | [NB 2][NB 7] | [31] | ||
| Most luminous star in a transient event | Progenitor ofGRB 080916C | 2008 | V=−40 | The star exploded in agamma-ray burst with the total energy equal to 9,000 supernovae. | [NB 8] | List of gamma-ray bursts | |
| Most energetic star | R136a1 | 2010 | B=-12.5 | [NB 7] | [32] | List of most luminous stars | |
| Most energetic star in a transient event | Progenitor ofGRB 080916C | 2008 | [NB 7] | ||||
| Hottest star | WR 102 | T= 200,000 K (200,000 °C; 360,000 °F) | [33] | List of hottest stars | |||
| Coolest star | S Cassiopeiae | T= 1,800 K (1,530 °C; 2,780 °F) | [34] | List of coolest stars |
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hottest white dwarf | RX J0439.8-6809 | 2015 | 250,000 K (450,000 °F) | [35][36][37] | |||
| Hottest neutron star | PSR B0943+10 | 3,100,000 K (5,580,000 °F) | Blackbody temperature of a small emitting area at the poles | [38] | |||
| Hottest brown dwarf | ZTF J1406+1222 B | 2022 | 10,462 K (10,189 °C; 18,372 °F) | [39] | |||
| Coolest neutron star | |||||||
| Coolest white dwarf | PSR J2222−0137 B | 2014 | <3,000 K (2,730 °C; 4,940 °F) | [37][40] | |||
| Coolest brown dwarf | WISE 0855−0714 | 2014 | 285 K (12 °C; 53 °F) | [41][42] |
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largestapparent size star | Sun | prehistoric (3rd century BC) | 31.6′ – 32.7′ | The apparent size of the Sun was first measured byEratosthenes in the 3rd century BC,[43] who was the second person to measure the distance to the Sun. However,Thales of Miletus provided a measurement for the real size of the Sun in the 6th century BC, as1⁄720 the great circle of the Sun (the orbit of the Earth).[44] | Reported for reference [NB 5] | ||
| Largest extrasolar apparent size star | R Doradus | 1997 | 0.057" | This replacedBetelgeuse as the largest, Betelgeuse having been the first star other than the Sun to have its apparent size measured. | [NB 1][NB 5] | [45] | |
| Smallest apparent size star | Most distant stars to Earth | [NB 5] | |||||
| Largest star | RSGC1-F01 HV 888 VY Canis Majoris AH Scorpii VX Sagittarii | 2024 | Respective radii: | Five stars technically tied, within the error bars. WOH G64 was the previous candidate[53] but was later found to be a smaller yellow hypergiant.[54] | [55][56] | List of largest known stars | |
| Smallest star | SGR J1935+2154 | 2024 | radius =4.35+1.95 −1.35 km[57](6.25×10−6R☉) | [58] | List of smallest stars | ||
| Smallest main-sequence star | EBLM J0555-57Ab | 2017 | 0.0844+0.0131 −0.0060 R☉ | [NB 2] | [59][60][61][62] | ||
| Most massive star | BAT99-98 orR136a1 | 2022, 2014 | 226 M☉,196+34 −27 M☉ | This exceeds the predicted limit of 150 M☉, previously believed to be the limit of stellar mass, according to the leading star formation theories.R136a1 considered the most massive known by the scientific community.[63] | [NB 9] | [63][64] | List of most massive stars |
| Least massive star | DENIS J1048−3956 | 0.075 M☉ | [NB 2] | [65] | List of least massive stars | ||
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most massive brown dwarf | Lup 607 | 2021 | 105MJupiter | This is at the limit between brown dwarfs and red dwarfs.[66][67] | [68] | ||
| Most massive degenerate star | The most massive type of degenerate star is the neutron star. SeeMost massive neutron star for this recordholder.[NB 3] | ||||||
| Most massive neutron star | PSR J0740+6620 | 2019 | 2.14 M☉ | Several candidates exist which have a higher mass; however, their mass has been measured by less precise methods and as such their mass value is regarded as less certain. | [69] | List of most massive neutron stars | |
| Most massive neutron star (disputed) | PSR J1748-2021B | 2015 | 2.548 M☉ | [70] | |||
| Most massive white dwarf | RE J0317-853/ZTF J1901+1458 | 1998/2020 | 1.35 MSun | [71][72] | |||
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Least massive star | DENIS J1048−3956 | 0.075 M☉ | [65] | List of brown dwarfs | |||
| Least massive neutron star | HESS J1731-347 | 2022 | 0.77 M☉ | [73][74] | |||
| Least massive white dwarf | NLTT 11748 | 2021 | 0.13–0.16 M☉ | [37] | |||
| Least massive brown dwarf | (unnamed) | 2023 | 3 – 4 MJ | Located in the star clusterIC 348 | [75][76] | Sub-brown dwarf |
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highestproper motion | Barnard's Star | 10.3 "/yr | This is also the fourth closest star to the Solar System. | [77][78] | |||
| Lowestproper motion | N/A | N/A | ~0 "/yr | Billions of stars on the other end of the galaxy | |||
| Highestradial velocity | |||||||
| Lowestradial velocity | EY Aquarii | 2013 | -870 km/s | Mira variable | [NB 10] | [79] | |
| Highestpeculiar motion | |||||||
| Lowestpeculiar motion | |||||||
| Highestrotational speed of a normal star | VFTS 102 | 2013 | 600 km/s | [NB 2] | [80] | ||
| Lowestrotational speed | |||||||
| Fastest velocity of a star | S5-HVS1 | 2019 | 1,755 km/s | [81][82][83][84] |
| Title | Object | Date | Data | Comments | Notes | Refs | See more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Least stars in a star system | There are many single star systems. | ||||||
| Most stars in astar system | Nonuple star system[85] | System contains at least nine stars.[85] | [NB 11] | [85] | |||
| Stars in the closest orbit around one another | There are many stars that are incontact binary systems (where two or more stars are in physical contact with each other). | ||||||
| Stars in the most distant orbit around one another | Regulus/SDSS J1007+1930 | 2024 | ~3.9 parsecs (13 ly) | [86] | |||
| Nearestmultiple star system | Alpha Centauri | 1839 | 1.30 parsecs (4.2 ly) | This was one of the first three stars to have its distance measured.[87][88] | [10][89] | ||
| Nearest solitary star | Barnard's Star | 1916 | 1.83 parsecs (6.0 ly) | ||||
| Nearest binary star system | Luhman 16 | 2013 | 1.998 parsecs (6.52 ly) | Brown dwarf binary system. The nearest non-brown dwarf binary isSirius, and the nearest composed entirely of main-sequence stars isLuyten 726-8. | |||
| Nearest trinary star system | Alpha Centauri | 1839 | 1.38 parsecs (4.5 ly) | Also nearest multiple star system, and nearest star system of any type | |||
| Nearest quaternary star system | Gliese 570 | 5.88 parsecs (19.2 ly) | K4 star orbited by a pair of M stars, all orbited by a T7 brown dwarf | ||||
| Nearest quintenary star system | V1054 Ophiuchi | 6.46 parsecs (21.1 ly) | M3 star orbited by a pair of pair of M4 stars, together orbited by an M3.5 star, all orbited by an M7 star | ||||
| Nearest sextenary star system | Castor | 1718 | 15.6 parsecs (51 ly) | A1 star orbited by a red dwarf, both orbited by another A star orbited by a red dwarf, all orbited by two red dwarfs orbiting each other | |||
| Nearest septenary star system | Nu Scorpii | 150 parsecs (490 ly) | A B3V star orbited by an unknown-type star, both orbited by another unknown star, together orbited by another unknown star, all orbited by a B9III star orbiting a pair of stars which are a B9III and unknown star | ||||