I recently read that in 2005 three stars - KW Sagitarii, V354 Cephei, and KY Cygni were the largest stars we've yet found, each having radii at least 7 AUs (1500 x the size of the sun's). Are these still the biggest stars we've seen, is this information even remotely accurate, and if it isn't, what IS the largest star?
Information taken from - http://www.lowell.edu/press_room/releases/recent_releases/largest_star_rls.html
2007-03-20 11:55:10 · 4 answers · asked by Shawn L 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
My Google search came up with a star known as W Cephei A as the star with the greatest known diameter -- 2,640 times the sun.
2007-03-20 12:05:56 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. I have no information to contradict this work, but remember that although they are extremely large in diameter, they are also a pretty hard vacuum and no where near the mass you might assume. Betelgeuse, for example, has a star IN ORBIT within it's atmosphere. Check out Eta Carina for another perspective. http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/etacar.html
2007-03-20 12:06:48 · answer #2 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe this information is still true; and, from what I've read, these stars will only burn for a few 10's of millions of years, then erupt into supernovas.
2007-03-20 12:01:35 · answer #3 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to check out this link a star known as LBV 1806-20 seems to be the topper!!
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/brightest_star_040106-1.html
this one is even better
http://www.yourdailymedia.com/media/1166716908/Planet_Sizes
2007-03-20 13:43:00 · answer #4 · answered by Craig C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋