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VY Canis Majoris

This is a gigantic pulsating red supergiant like VV Cephei, which too claims to be the star with the largest diameter. As nearly always the value isn't sure.
Surprisingly the star breeds molecules and blasts them out into space. Among them are simple organic compounds as well as table salt (NaCl).

Constellation: Canis Major
Distance: 5000 light-years
Spectral class: M3 - M4
Visual magnitude: 10.19
Luminosity: 430 000 * Sun
Mass: 30 - 40 * Sun
Diameter: 1950 * Sun

Back: List of big and giant stars part 2

01/08/2007

     VY Canis Majoris
VY Cma in polarized light.
Photo: NASA, ESA, and R. Humphreys (University of Minnesota)
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