Touring the Galaxies: Largest Stars Beyond the Milky Way
Exploring the vast expanse of space has always been a fascination for humanity throughout history. The more we learn about our universe, the more we realize just how vast and varied it truly is. While our own Milky Way galaxy holds countless mysteries, our curiosity often leads us beyond its borders. In this article, we'll explore some of the largest stars beyond the Milky Way that have captivated astronomers and stargazers alike.
What Makes a Star "Large"?
Before we dive into specific examples of massive stars beyond our galaxy, it's important to understand the criteria used to classify a star as "large". Generally, a star's size is determined by its mass, with larger masses resulting in larger sizes. It's important to note, however, that a star's size can also be affected by external factors such as temperature and age. The largest stars in the universe, known as "hypergiants", can have masses over 100 times that of our sun and sizes that are hundreds of times larger.
The Largest Stars Beyond the Milky Way
R136a1
The star with the largest apparent size outside of our galaxy is R136a1, located in the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This supermassive star has a mass of over 250 times that of our sun and has a luminosity that's over 10 million times brighter.
WOH G64
WOH G64, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is one of the largest known red supergiants in the universe. This star has a diameter that's over 1,500 times that of our sun and has a mass that's at least 25 times greater.
VY Canis Majoris
VY Canis Majoris is another hypergiant and was once thought to be the largest star in the Milky Way until it was surpassed by the discovery of Stephenson 2-18. Located in the constellation Canis Major, this massive star has a size of around 1,800 times that of our sun and has a luminosity that's up to 500,000 times brighter.
Conclusion
While our own Milky Way galaxy holds countless wonders, exploring beyond it has allowed us to discover some of the most massive stars in the universe. These massive stars have taught us valuable lessons about the nature of the universe and have sparked our imagination and sense of wonder as we continue to explore the cosmos.