Below arelists of the largest stars currently known, ordered byradius and separated into categories by galaxy. The unit of measurement used is theradius of the Sun (approximately 695,700 km; 432,300 mi).[1]
Although red supergiants are often considered the largest stars, some other star types have been found to temporarily increase significantly in radius, such as duringLBV eruptions orluminous red novae. Luminous red novae appear to expand extremely rapidly, reaching thousands to tens of thousands of solar radii within only a few months, significantly larger than the largest red supergiants.[2]
Some studies use models that predict high-accretingPopulation III orPopulation I supermassive stars (SMSs) in thevery early universe could have evolved "red supergiant protostars". These protostars are thought to have accretion rates larger than the rate of contraction, resulting in lower temperatures but with radii reaching up to many tens of thousands ofR☉, comparable to some of thelargest known black holes.[3][4][5]
Angular diameters
The angular diameters of stars can be measured directly usingstellar interferometry. Other methods can use lunaroccultations or fromeclipsing binaries, which can be used to test indirect methods of finding stellar radii. Only a fewsupergiants can be occulted by the Moon, includingAntares and119 Tauri. Examples of eclipsing binaries areEpsilon Aurigae (Almaaz),VV Cephei, andV766 Centauri (HR 5171). Angular diameter measurements can be inconsistent because the boundary of the very tenuous atmosphere (opacity) differs depending on the wavelength of light in which thestar is observed.[citation needed]
Uncertainties remain with the membership and order of the lists, especially when deriving various parameters used in calculations, such as stellarluminosity andeffective temperature. Often stellar radii can only be expressed as an average or be within a large range of values. Values for stellar radii vary significantly in different sources and for different observation methods.[6]
All the sizes stated in these lists have inaccuracies and may be disputed. The lists are still a work in progress and parameters are prone to change.
Caveats
Various issues exist in determining accurate radii of the largest stars, which in many cases do display significant errors. The following lists are generally based on various considerations or assumptions; these include:
Stellar distances, and their errors, for most stars, remain uncertain or poorly determined.
Many extended supergiant atmospheres also significantly change in size over time, regularly or irregularly pulsating over several months or years asvariable stars. This makes adoptedluminosities poorly known and may significantly change the quoted radii.
Other direct methods for determining stellar radii rely on lunaroccultations or from eclipses in binary systems. This is only possible for a very small number of stars.[7]
Many distance estimates for red supergiants come from stellar cluster or association membership, because it is difficult to calculate accurate distances for red supergiants that are not part of any cluster or association.
In these lists are some examples of extremely distant extragalactic stars, which may have slightly different properties and natures than the currently largest known stars in theMilky Way. For example, some redsupergiants in theMagellanic Clouds are suspected to have slightly different limitingtemperatures andluminosities. Such stars may exceed accepted limits by undergoing large eruptions or changing theirspectral types over just a few months (or potentially years).[8][9]
Estimated by measuring the fraction of red supergiants at higher luminosities in a large sample of supernova progenitor candidates. Assumes an effective temperature of3,605 K. Reported for reference
An extreme oxygen-rich red hypergiant that has experienced two dimming periods in the 20th century where the star became dimmer by up to 2.5 magnitudes.[16] Potentially the largest known star.[14] There is a possilbility that this size might be a bit overestimated (on the order of 1 sigma). Hence, the quoted radius might be just an upper limit.[13]
Another red supergiant,Stephenson 2 DFK 1 has an estimated radius of 2,150 R☉. However, it is potentially not a member of theStephenson 2 cluster and also has a distance with an uncertainty of ≳50% due to it only being measured with radial velocities.[12][24]
Widely recognised as being among the largest known stars.[21] Might be the largest star visible to the naked eye.[30] The higher radii estimate assume Mu Cephei is in the Cepheus OB2OB association.[28][31] Other sources suggest Mu Cephei andBetelgeuse are likely similar in properties.[32][29] If so, Mu Cephei's radius would be comparable to that of Betelgeuse, which is between 650 and 800 R☉.
A red supergiant star orbited by a smallerB-type main-sequence star with a radius estimated between 13[54] and 25 R☉.[55] Widely recognised as being among the largest known stars.[21] Another estimate give a radius of 660 R☉[25] based on the Gaia DR3 distance of 1 kpc.[35]
Estimated based on the bolometric luminosity (14,000–20,000 L☉) and assumed effective temperature of 2,000 K. Another period-luminosity-derived luminosity for this star results in a radius of 1,730 R☉.[57]
Lower values based on the Gaia DR3 effective temperature and the luminosity of Levesque et al. (2005) and that of Messineo & Brown (2019). Higher value based on the GSP Phot-Aeneas library using BR/RP spectra in Gaia DR3.
Estimated based on data from theCHARA array. Another radii of890+21 −15R☉ (2014),895+21 −15R☉ (2015) and890+21 −15R☉ (2016) are calculated based on the same data.[19]
Lower value based on the GSP Phot-Aeneas library using BR/RP spectra in Gaia DR3. Higher values based on the Gaia DR3 effective temperature and the luminosity of Levesque et al. (2005) and that of Messineo & Brown (2019).
Tenth brightest star in the night sky.[72] Widely recognised as being among the largest known stars,[21] radius decreased to ~500 R☉ during the 2020 great dimming event.[76]
A red giant star with one of the largest ranges in brightness known of stars in the night sky visible to the unaided eye. Despite its large radius, it is less massive than the Sun.
Estimated by measuring the fraction of red supergiants at higher luminosities in a large sample of stars. Assumes an effective temperature of3,545 K. Reported for reference
Estimated by measuring the fraction of red supergiants at higher luminosities in a large sample of stars. Assumes an effective temperature of3,850 K. Reported for reference
Has an unusually high metallicity and velocity.[115] Often referred to as itsSIMBAD designation [W60] B90. Discrepancy in radius is caused by a potential underestimation of the effective temperature measured from theTitanium(II) oxide bands.
Lower value derived from fitting models that assume the star's effective temperature to be 3,400 K. Higher value based on the measured effective temperature from van Loon et al. (2005). A newer paper estimates parameters that would result in a radius of 1,765 R☉.[109]
Estimated by measuring the fraction of red supergiants at higher luminosities in a large sample of stars. Assumes an effective temperature of3,625 K. Reported for reference
Theoretical limit of star size (Triangulum Galaxy)
Estimated by measuring the fraction of red supergiants at higher luminosities in a large sample of stars. Assumes an effective temperature of3,605 K. Reported for reference
Note that this list does not include the candidateJWSTdark stars, with estimated radii of up to 61 astronomical units (13,000 R☉)[152] orQuasi-stars, with theoretical models suggesting that they could reach radii of up to 40,700 solar radii (189 au).[153]
19 outbursts were detected between 2012 and 2022. The star was likely relatively stable the decade before since no outbursts were detected from 1999 – 2009.[174]
The following list include the largest stars by their apparent size (angular diameter) as seen from Earth. The unit of measurement is themilliarcsecond (mas), equivalent to10×10−3arcseconds. Stars with angular diameters larger than 13milliarcseconds are included.
List of largest stars by apparent size (angular diameter)
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^Tsuboi, Masato; Kitamura, Yoshimi; Tsutsumi, Takahiro; Miyawaki, Ryosuke; Miyoshi, Makoto; Miyazaki, Atsushi (April 2020). "Sub-millimeter detection of a Galactic center cool star IRS 7 by ALMA".Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan.72 (2): 36.arXiv:2002.01620.Bibcode:2020PASJ...72...36T.doi:10.1093/pasj/psaa013.ISSN0004-6264.
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^Decin, Leen; Richards, Anita M. S.; Marchant, Pablo; Sana, Hugues (2024). "ALMA detection of CO rotational line emission in red supergiant stars of the massive young star cluster RSGC1".Astronomy & Astrophysics.681: A17.arXiv:2303.09385.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202244635.
^González-Torà, G.; Wittkowski, M.; Davies, B.; Plez, B. (19 December 2023). "The effect of winds on atmospheric layers of red supergiants II. Modelling VLTI/GRAVITY and MATISSE observations of AH Sco, KW Sgr, V602 Car, CK Car and V460 Car".Astronomy & Astrophysics.683: A19.arXiv:2312.12521.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202348047.ISSN0004-6361.
^Hopkins, Jeffrey L.; Bennett, Philip D.; Pollmann, Ernst (2015). "VV Cephei Eclipse Campaign 2017/19".The Society for Astronomical Sciences 34th Annual Symposium on Telescope Science. Published by Society for Astronomical Sciences.34: 83.Bibcode:2015SASS...34...83H.
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^Baron, F.; Monnier, J. D.; Kiss, L. L.; Neilson, H. R.; Zhao, M.; Anderson, M.; Aarnio, A.; Pedretti, E.; Thureau, N.; ten Brummelaar, T. A.; Ridgway, S. T. (April 2014). "CHARA/MIRC Observations of Two M Supergiants in Perseus OB1: Temperature, Bayesian Modeling, and Compressed Sensing Imaging".The Astrophysical Journal.785 (1): 46.arXiv:1405.4032.Bibcode:2014ApJ...785...46B.doi:10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/46.ISSN0004-637X.S2CID17085548.
^Wallstrom, S. H. J.; et al. (7 December 2023). "ATOMIUM: Molecular inventory of 17 oxygen-rich evolved stars observed with ALMA".Astronomy & Astrophysics.681: A50.arXiv:2312.03467.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202347632.
^Ohnaka, K.; Hofmann, K. -H.; Schertl, D.; Weigelt, G.; Baffa, C.; Chelli, A.; Petrov, R.; Robbe-Dubois, S. (July 2013). "High spectral resolution imaging of the dynamical atmosphere of the red supergiant Antares in the CO first overtone lines with VLTI/AMBER".Astronomy and Astrophysics.555: A24.arXiv:1304.4800.Bibcode:2013A&A...555A..24O.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201321063.ISSN0004-6361.S2CID56396587.
^abcdeHoffleit, D.; Warren, W. H. Jr. (November 1995). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991)".VizieR Online Data Catalog: V/50.Bibcode:1995yCat.5050....0H.
^McAlister, H. A.; ten Brummelaar, T. A.; Gies; Huang; Bagnuolo, Jr.; Shure; Sturmann; Sturmann; Turner; Taylor; Berger; Baines; Grundstrom; Ogden; Ridgway; Van Belle; et al. (2005). "First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator Alpha Leonis (Regulus)".The Astrophysical Journal.628 (1):439–452.arXiv:astro-ph/0501261.Bibcode:2005ApJ...628..439M.doi:10.1086/430730.S2CID6776360.
^Davis, J.; et al. (October 2010). "The Angular Diameter and Fundamental Parameters of Sirius A".Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.28:58–65.arXiv:1010.3790.doi:10.1071/AS10010.
^abMunoz-Sanchez, G.; de Wit, S.; Bonanos, A. Z.; Antoniadas, K.; Boutsia, K.; Boumis, P.; Christodoulou, E.; Kalitsounaki, M.; Udalski, A. (21 May 2024). "Episodic mass loss in the very luminous red supergiant [W60] B90 in the Large Magellanic Cloud".Astronomy & Astrophysics.690: A99.arXiv:2405.11019.Bibcode:2024A&A...690A..99M.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202450737.
^abcMunoz-Sanchez, G.; et al. (28 November 2024). "The dramatic transition of the extreme Red Supergiant WOH G64 to a Yellow Hypergiant".arXiv:2411.19329 [astro-ph.SR].
^Abbott, Jay Brian (2004). "Quantitative spectroscopic studies of Wolf-Rayet stars in local group galaxies".Bibcode:2004PhDT.......161A.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)
^Prieto, José (2007). "LBT Discovery of a Yellow Supergiant Eclipsing Binary in the Dwarf Galaxy Holmberg IX".arXiv:0709.2376 [Astrophysics].
^Prieto, José (2007). "LBT Discovery of a Yellow Supergiant Eclipsing Binary in the Dwarf Galaxy Holmberg IX".arXiv:0709.2376 [Astrophysics].
^Petit, V.; Drissen, L.; Crowther, P. A. (2005). "Quantitative analysis of STIS spectra of NGC 2363-V1".The Fate of the Most Massive Stars.332: 159.Bibcode:2005ASPC..332..157P.
^abWallstrom, S. H. J.; Danilovich, T.; Muller, H. S. P.; Gottlieb, C. A.; Maes, S.; Van de Sande, M.; Decin, L.; Richards, A. M. S.; Baudry, A.; Bolte, J.; Ceulemans, T.; De Ceuster, F.; de Koter, A.; Mellah, I. El; Esseldeurs, M. (6 December 2023). "ATOMIUM: Molecular inventory of 17 oxygen-rich evolved stars observed with ALMA".Astronomy & Astrophysics.681: A50.arXiv:2312.03467.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202347632.ISSN0004-6361.
^Paladini, C.; Klotz, D.; Sacuto, S.; Lagadec, E.; Wittkowski, M.; Richichi, A.; Hron, J.; Jorissen, A.; Groenewegen, M. A. T.; Kerschbaum, F.; Verhoelst, T.; Rau, G.; Olofsson, H.; Zhao-Geisler, R.; Matter, A. (1 April 2017). "The VLTI/MIDI view on the inner mass loss of evolved stars from the Herschel MESS sample".Astronomy and Astrophysics.600: A136.arXiv:1701.05407.Bibcode:2017A&A...600A.136P.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201527210.ISSN0004-6361.
^Min, Cheulhong; Matsumoto, Naoko; Kim, Mi Kyoung; Hirota, Tomoya; Shibata, Katsunori M.; Cho, Se-Hyung; Shizugami, Makoto; Honma, Mareki (1 April 2014). "Accurate Parallax Measurement toward the Symbiotic Star R Aquarii".Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan.66 (2): 38.arXiv:1401.5574.doi:10.1093/pasj/psu003.ISSN2053-051X.