List of most massive stars

This article is about mass. For radius, see List of largest known stars.

This is a list of the most massive stars that have been discovered, in solar mass units (M☉).

Uncertainties and caveats

[edit]

Most of the masses listed below are contested and, being the subject of current research, remain under review and subject to constant revision of their masses and other characteristics. Indeed, many of the masses listed in the table below are inferred from theory, using difficult measurements of the stars' temperatures and absolute brightnesses. All the masses listed below are uncertain: Both the theory and the measurements are pushing the limits of current knowledge and technology. Both theories and measurements could be incorrect.

Artist's impression of disc of obscuring material around a massive star.

Complications with distance and obscuring clouds

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Since massive stars are rare, astronomers must look very far from Earth to find them. All the listed stars are many thousands of light years away, which makes measurements difficult. In addition to being far away, many stars of such extreme mass are surrounded by clouds of outflowing gas created by extremely powerful stellar winds; the surrounding gas interferes with the already difficult-to-obtain measurements of stellar temperatures and brightnesses, which greatly complicates the issue of estimating internal chemical compositions and structures.[a] This obstruction leads to difficulties in determining the parameters needed to calculate the star's mass.

Eta Carinae is the bright spot hidden in the double-lobed dust cloud. It is the most massive star that has a Bayer designation. It was only discovered to be (at least) two stars in the past few decades.

Both the obscuring clouds and the great distances also make it difficult to judge whether the star is just a single supermassive object or, instead, a multiple star system. A number of the "stars" listed below may actually be two or more companions orbiting too closely for our telescopes to distinguish, each star possibly being massive in itself but not necessarily "supermassive" to either be on this list, or near the top of it. And certainly other combinations are possible – for example a supermassive star with one or more smaller companions or more than one giant star – but without being able to clearly see inside the surrounding cloud, it is difficult to know what kind of object is actually generating the bright point of light seen from the Earth.

More globally, statistics on stellar populations seem to indicate that the upper mass limit is in the 100–200 solar mass range,[1] so any mass estimate above this range is suspect.

Rare reliable estimates

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Eclipsing binary stars are the only stars whose masses are estimated with some confidence. However note that almost all of the masses listed in the table below were inferred by indirect methods; only a few of the masses in the table were determined using eclipsing systems.

Amongst the most reliable listed masses are those for the eclipsing binaries NGC 3603-A1, WR 21a, and WR 20a. Masses for all three were obtained from orbital measurements.[b] This involves measuring their radial velocities and also their light curves. The radial velocities only yield minimum values for the masses, depending on inclination, but light curves of eclipsing binaries provide the missing information: inclination of the orbit to our line of sight.

Relevance of stellar evolution

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Some stars may once have been more massive than they are today. It is likely that many large stars have suffered significant mass loss (perhaps as much as several tens of solar masses). This mass may have been expelled by superwinds: high velocity winds that are driven by the hot photosphere into interstellar space. The process forms an enlarged extended envelope around the star that interacts with the nearby interstellar medium and infuses the adjacent volume of space with elements heavier than hydrogen or helium.[c]

There are also – or rather were – stars that might have appeared on the list but no longer exist as stars, or are supernova impostors; today we see only their debris.[d] The masses of the precursor stars that fueled these destructive events can be estimated from the type of explosion and the energy released, but those masses are not listed here.

This list only concerns "living" stars – those which are still seen by Earth-based observers existing as active stars: Still engaged in interior nuclear fusion that generates heat and light. That is, the light now arriving at the Earth as images of the stars listed still shows them to internally generate new energy as of the time (in the distant past) that light now being received was emitted. The list specifically excludes both white dwarfs – former stars that are now seen to be "dead" but radiating residual heat – and black holes – fragmentary remains of exploded stars which have gravitationally collapsed, even though accretion disks surrounding those black holes might generate heat or light exterior to the star's remains (now inside the black hole), radiated by infalling matter (see § Black holes below).

Mass limits

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There are two related theoretical limits on how massive a star can possibly be: The accretion mass limit and the Eddington mass limit.

The accretion limit is related to star formation: After about 120 M☉ have accreted in a protostar, the combined mass should have become hot enough for its heat to drive away any further incoming matter. In effect, the protostar reaches a point where it evaporates away material already collected as fast as it collects new material.
The Eddington limit is based on light pressure from the core of an already-formed star: As mass increases past ~150 M☉, the intensity of light radiated from a Population I star's core will become sufficient for the light-pressure pushing outward to exceed the gravitational force pulling inward, and the surface material of the star will be free to float away into space. Since their different compositions make them more transparent, Population II and Population III stars have higher and much higher mass limits, respectively.

Accretion limits

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Astronomers have long hypothesized that as a protostar grows to a size beyond 120 M☉, something drastic must happen.[2] Although the limit can be stretched for very early Population III stars, and although the exact value is uncertain, if any stars still exist above 150–200 M☉ they would challenge current theories of stellar evolution.

Studying the Arches Cluster, which is currently the densest known cluster of stars in our galaxy, astronomers have confirmed that no stars in that cluster exceed about 150 M☉.

The R136 cluster is an unusually dense collection of young, hot, blue stars.

Rare ultramassive stars that exceed this limit – for example in the R136 star cluster – might be explained by the following proposal: Some of the pairs of massive stars in close orbit in young, unstable multiple-star systems must, on rare occasions, collide and merge when certain unusual circumstances hold that make a collision possible.[3]

Eddington mass limit

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Main article: Eddington luminosity

Eddington's limit on stellar mass arises because of light-pressure: For a sufficiently massive star the outward pressure of radiant energy generated by nuclear fusion in the star's core exceeds the inward pull of its own gravity. The lowest mass for which this effect is active is the Eddington limit.

Stars of greater mass have a higher rate of core energy generation, and heavier stars' luminosities increase far out of proportion to the increase in their masses. The Eddington limit is the point beyond which a star ought to push itself apart, or at least shed enough mass to reduce its internal energy generation to a lower, maintainable rate. The actual limit-point mass depends on how opaque the gas in the star is, and metal-rich Population I stars have lower mass limits than metal-poor Population II stars. Before their demise, the hypothetical metal-free Population III stars would have had the highest allowed mass, somewhere around 300 M☉.

In theory, a more massive star could not hold itself together because of the mass loss resulting from the outflow of stellar material. In practice the theoretical Eddington Limit must be modified for high luminosity stars and the empirical Humphreys–Davidson limit is used instead.[4]

List of the most massive known stars

[edit]
Legend
Wolf–Rayet star
Luminous blue variable
O-type star
B-type star

The following two lists show a few of the known stars, including the stars in open cluster, OB association and H II region. Despite their high luminosity, many of them are nevertheless too distant to be observed with the naked eye. Stars that are at least sometimes visible to the unaided eye have their apparent magnitude (6.5 or brighter) highlighted in blue.

The first list gives stars that are estimated to be 60 M☉ or larger; the majority of which are shown. The second list includes some notable stars which are below 60 M☉ for the purpose of comparison. The method used to determine each star's mass is included to give an idea of the data's uncertainty; note that the mass of binary stars can be determined far more accurately. The masses listed below are the stars' current (evolved) mass, not their initial (formation) mass.

Stars with 60 M☉ or greater
Star name Location Mass
(M☉) 		Approx. dist.
(ly) 		Spectral type Appt. vis. mag. Eff. temp.
(K) 		Mass est.
method 		Link Ref.
BAT99-98 Tarantula Nebula 226 165,000 WN6 13.37 45,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][6]
R136a1 Tarantula Nebula 196+34
−27 		163,000 WN5h 12.23 46,000 evolution SIMBAD [7][8]
Melnick 42 Tarantula Nebula 189 163,000 O2If* 12.78 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 1022 Tarantula Nebula 178 164,000 O3.5If*/WN7 13.47 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
Westerhout 51-57 Westerhout 51 160 20,000 O4V 16.66
J band 		42,700 evolution [10]
R136a3 Tarantula Nebula 155 163,000 WN5h 12.97 50,000 evolution SIMBAD [7][8]
VFTS 682 Tarantula Nebula 153 164,000 WN5h 16.08 52,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [11][6]
HD 15558 A IC 1805 ≥152±51 24,400 O5.5III(f) 7.87
combined 		39,500 binary SIMBAD [12][13]
R136a2 Tarantula Nebula 151 163,000 WN5h 12.34 50,000 evolution SIMBAD [7][8]
Westerhout 51-3 Westerhout 51 148+105
−82 		20,000 O3-8V 17.79
J band 		39,800 evolution SIMBAD [10]
Melnick 34 A Tarantula Nebula 147±22 163,000 WN5h 13.09
combined 		53,000 binary SIMBAD [14][6]
VFTS 482 Tarantula Nebula 145 164,000 O3If*/WN6-A 12.95 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
R136c Tarantula Nebula 142 163,000 WN5h 13.43 51,000 evolution SIMBAD [15][6]
VFTS 1021 Tarantula Nebula 141 164,000 O4 If+ 13.35 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
LH 10-3209 A NGC 1763 140 160,000 O3III(f*) 11.859
combined 		42,500 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17][e]
Melnick 34 B Tarantula Nebula 136±20 163,000 WN5h 13.09
combined 		53,000 binary SIMBAD [14][6]
Westerhout 51d Westerhout 51 135 20,000 15.11
J band 		42,700 evolution [10]
VFTS 545 Tarantula Nebula 133 164,000 O2If*/WN5 13.32 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
HD 97950 B WR 43b in HD 97950 132 24,800 WN6h 11.33 42,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [18][19]
HD 269810 NGC 2029 130 163,000 O2III(f*) 12.22 52,500 spectroscopy SIMBAD [20][21]
R136a7 Tarantula Nebula 127 163,000 O3III(f*) 13.97 54,000 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
WR 42e HD 97950 123 25,000 O3If*/WN6 14.53 43,000 Ejection SIMBAD [23][f]
VFTS 506 Tarantula Nebula 122 164,000 ON2V((n))((f*)) 13.31 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [11][6]
HD 97950 A1a WR 43a A in HD 97950 120 24,800 WN6h 11.18
combined 		42,000 binary SIMBAD [18][19]
LSS 4067 HM 1 120 11,000 O4.5Ifpe 11.44 40,000 evolution SIMBAD [24][25]
WR 93 Pismis 24 120 5,900 WC7 10.68 71,000 evolution SIMBAD [24][13]
Sk -69° 212 NGC 2044 119 160,000 O6If 12.416 45,400 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Sk -69° 249 A NGC 2074 119 160,000 O7If 12.02
combined 		38,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][27]
ST5-31 NGC 2074 119 160,000 O2-3(n)fp 12.273 50,700 evolution SIMBAD [26][28]
R136a5 Tarantula Nebula 116 157,000 O2I(n)f* 13.71 48,000 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
MSP 183 Westerlund 2 115 20,000 O3V(f) 13.878 46,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [29][30]
WR 24 Collinder 228 114 14,000 WN6ha-w 6.48 50,100 evolution SIMBAD [31][32]
HD 97950 C1 WR 43c A in HD 97950 113 24,800 WN6h 11.89
combined 		44,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [18][19][e]
Arches-F9 WR 102ae in Arches Cluster 111.3 25,000 WN8-9h 16.1
J band 		36,600 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
Cygnus OB2 #12 A Cygnus OB2 110 5,200 B3–4 Ia+ 11.702
combined 		13,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [35][36][e]
HD 93129 Aa Trumpler 14 110 7,500 O2If 6.9
combined 		42,500 trinary SIMBAD [37][13]
HSH95-36 Tarantula Nebula 110 163,000 O2 If* 14.41 49,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
R146 Tarantula Nebula 109 164,000 WN4 13.11 63,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][6]
R136a4 Tarantula Nebula 108 157,000 O3 V((f*))(n) 13.41 50,000 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
VFTS 621 Tarantula Nebula 107 164,000 O2V((f*))z 15.39 54,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
R136a6 Tarantula Nebula 105 157,000 O2I(n)f*p 13.35 52,000 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
Westerhout 49-3 Westerhout 49 105 36,200 O3-O7V 16.689
J band 		40,700 evolution SIMBAD [38][39]
WR 21a A Runaway star from Westerlund 2 103.6 26,100 O3/WN5ha 12.661 combined 45,000 binary SIMBAD [40][21]
R99 N44 103 164,000 Ofpe/WN9 11.52 28,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][13]
Arches-F6 WR 102ah in Arches Cluster 101 25,000 WN8-9h 15.75
J band 		33,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
Sk -65° 47 NGC 1923 101 160,000 O4If 12.466 47,800 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Arches-F1 WR 102ad in Arches Cluster 100.9 25,000 WN8-9h 16.3
J band 		33,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
HD 37836 Large Magellanic Cloud 100 163,000 B0Iae 10.55 28,200 SIMBAD [41][42]
Peony Star WR 102ka in Peony Nebula 100 26,000 Ofpe/WN9 12.978
J band 		25,100 spectroscopy SIMBAD [43][39]
VFTS 457 Tarantula Nebula 100 164,000 O3.5If*/WN7 13.74 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
η Carinae A Trumpler 16 100 7,500 LBV 4.3
combined 		9,400–35,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [44][45]
Mercer 30-1 A WR 46-3 A in Mercer 30 99 40,000 10.33
J band 		32,200 evolution SIMBAD [46][g][e]
Sk -68° 137 Tarantula Nebula 99 160,000 13.346 50,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17]
WR 25 A Trumpler 16 98 6,500 O2.5If* 8.8
combined 		50,100 evolution SIMBAD [31][13][e]
BI 253 runaway star from Tarantula Nebula 97.6 164,000 O2V 13.76 54,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [15][47]
R136a8 Tarantula Nebula 96 157,000 O2–3V[48] 14.42 49,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][48]
HD 38282 B Tarantula Nebula 95 163,000 11.11
combined 		47,000 binary SIMBAD [49][21]
HM 1-6 HM 1 95 11,000 11.64 44,700 evolution SIMBAD [24][50]
NGC 3603-42 HD 97950 95 25,000 12.86 50,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][19]
R139 A Tarantula Nebula 95 163,000 11.94
combined 		35,000 binary SIMBAD [5][6]
BAT99-6 NGC 1747 94 165,000 11.95 56,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17]
Sk -66° 172 N64 94 160,000 13.1 46,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17][h]
ST2-22 NGC 2044 94 160,000 14.3 51,300 evolution SIMBAD [26][51]
VFTS 259 Tarantula Nebula 94 164,000 13.65 37,600 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 562 Tarantula Nebula 94 164,000 13.66 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 512 Tarantula Nebula 93 164,000 14.28 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
HD 97950 A1b WR 43a B in HD 97950 92 24,800 WN6h[52] 11.18
combined 		40,000 binary SIMBAD [18][19]
R136b Tarantula Nebula 92 163,000 13.24 35,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
VFTS 16 Tarantula Nebula 91.6 164,000 13.55 50,600 spectroscopy SIMBAD [15][6]
HD 97950 A3 HD 97950 91 24,800 12.95 50,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][19]
NGC 346-W1 NGC 346 91 200,000 12.57 43,400 evolution SIMBAD [26][53]
Westerhout 49-2 Westerhout 49 90–240, 250±120 36,200 18.246
J band 		35,500 spectroscopy SIMBAD [38][39]
R127 NGC 2055 90 160,000 10.15 10,000–27,000 evolution SIMBAD [54][21]
VFTS 333 Tarantula Nebula 90 164,000 12.49 37,600 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 267 Tarantula Nebula 89 164,000 13.49 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 64 Tarantula Nebula 88 164,000 14.621 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
BAT99-80 A NGC 2044 87 165,000 13
combined 		45,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [26][51]
R140b Tarantula Nebula 87 165,000 12.66 47,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][6]
VFTS 542 Tarantula Nebula 87 164,000 13.47 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 599 Tarantula Nebula 87 164,000 13.8 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
WR 89 HM 1 87 11,000 11.02 39,800 evolution SIMBAD [31][21]
Arches-F7 WR 102aj in Arches Cluster 86.3 25,000 15.74
J band 		32,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
Sk -69° 104 NGC 1910 86 160,000 12.1 39,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
VFTS 1017 Tarantula Nebula 86 164,000 14.5 50,100 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
LH 10-3061 NGC 1763 85 160,000 13.491 52,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17]
Sk 80 NGC 346 85 200,000 12.31 38,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][55]
VFTS 603 Tarantula Nebula 85 164,000 13.99 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
Sk -70° 91 BSDL 1830 84.09 165,000 12.78 48,900 evolution SIMBAD [56][17][i]
R147 Tarantula Nebula 84 164,000 12.993 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][57]
HD 93250 A Trumpler 16 83.3 7,500 7.5
combined 		46,000 evolution SIMBAD [58][13][e]
Melnick 33Na A Tarantula Nebula 83 163,000 13.79
combined 		50,000 evolution SIMBAD [59][60]
WR 20a A Westerlund 2 82.7 20,000 13.28
combined 		43,000 binary SIMBAD [61]
TIC 276934932 A NGC 2048 82 160,000 14.05
combined 		45,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17]
WR 20a B Westerlund 2 81.9 20,000 13.28
combined 		43,000 binary SIMBAD [61]
Trumpler 27-27 Trumpler 27 81 3,900 13.31 37,000 evolution SIMBAD [24][21]
BAT99-96 Tarantula Nebula 80 165,000 13.76 42,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][6]
HD 15570 IC 1805 80 7,500 8.11 46,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [12][13]
HD 38282 A Tarantula Nebula 80 163,000 11.11
combined 		47,000 binary SIMBAD [49][21]
HSH95-46 Tarantula Nebula 80 163,000 14.56 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
Arches-F15 Arches Cluster 79.7 25,000 16.12
J band 		35,600 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
BI 237 BSDL 2527 79.66 165,000 13.83 51,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [56][17][j]
VFTS 94 Tarantula Nebula 79 164,000 14.161 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
VFTS 151 Tarantula Nebula 79 164,000 14.13 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
LH 41-32 NGC 1910 78 160,000 13.086 48,200 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Pismis 24-17 Pismis 24 78 5,900 11.84 42,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [62][50]
VFTS 404 Tarantula Nebula 78 164,000 14.14 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
Westerhout 51-2 Westerhout 51 77+26
−22 		20,000 13.68
J band 		42,700 evolution SIMBAD [10]
BAT99-68 BSDL 2505 76 165,000 14.13 45,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17][k]
HD 93632 Collinder 228 76 10,000 8.23 45,400 evolution SIMBAD [24][13]
NGC 346-W3 NGC 346 76 200,000 12.8 52,500 evolution SIMBAD [26][53]
VFTS 169 Tarantula Nebula 76 164,000 14.437 47,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
VFTS 440 Tarantula Nebula 76 164,000 12.046 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
AB1 DEM S10 75 197,000 15.238 79,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [63][53][l]
WR 22 A Bochum 10 75 8,300 6.42
combined 		44,700 evolution SIMBAD [31][13][m]
Pismis 24-1NE Pismis 24 74 6,500 11 42,500 binary SIMBAD [62][64]
VFTS 608 Tarantula Nebula 74 164,000 14.22 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
HSH95-31 Tarantula Nebula 73 163,000 14.12 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
Mercer 30-3 Mercer 30 73 40,000 12.62
J band 		39,300 evolution SIMBAD [46][g]
Mercer 30-11 Mercer 30 73 40,000 12.33
J band 		36,800 evolution SIMBAD [46][g]
VFTS 566 Tarantula Nebula 73 164,000 14.05 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
LH 64-16 NGC 2001 72 160,000 13.666 50,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][28]
NGC 2044-W35 NGC 2044 72 160,000 14.1 48,200 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
VFTS 216 Tarantula Nebula 72 164,000 14.389 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
ST2-1 NGC 2044 71 160,000 14.3 44,100 evolution SIMBAD [26][51]
VFTS 3 Tarantula Nebula 71 164,000 11.56 21,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [65][6]
Arches-F12 WR 102af in Arches Cluster 70 25,000 16.4
J band 		36,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
HD 15629 IC 1805 70 7,500 8.42 45,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [12][13]
HD 37974 N135 70 163,000 10.99 22,500 spectroscopy SIMBAD [66][21][n]
HD 93129 Ab Trumpler 14 70 7,500 7.31
combined 		44,000 trinary SIMBAD [37][67]
M33 X-7 B Triangulum Galaxy 70 2,700,000 18.7 35,000 binary SIMBAD [68][69]
Sk -69° 194 A NGC 2033 70 160,000 12.131
combined 		45,000 evolution SIMBAD [26][57][e]
VFTS 125 Tarantula Nebula 69.6 164,000 16.6 55,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [15][51]
HD 46150 NGC 2244 69 5,200 6.73 44,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][13]
HD 229059 Berkeley 87 69 3,000 8.7 26,300 evolution SIMBAD [24][13]
ST2-3 NGC 2044 of LMC 69 160,000 14.264 44,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
ST2-32 NGC 2044 69 160,000 13.903 45,400 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
W28-23 NGC 2033 69 160,000 13.702 51,300 evolution SIMBAD [26][28]
HD 93403 A Trumpler 16 68.5 10,400 8.27
combined 		39,300 binary SIMBAD [70][21]
HD 93130 Collinder 228 68 10,000 O7II(f)[71] 8.04 39,900 evolution SIMBAD [24][13]
HM 1-8 HM 1 68 11,000 12.52 46,100 evolution SIMBAD [24][50]
HSH95-47 Tarantula Nebula 68 163,000 14.72 43,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
HSH95-48 Tarantula Nebula 68 163,000 14.75 46,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][48]
Westerhout 51-61 Westerhout 51 68 20,000 18.16
J band 		38,000 evolution SIMBAD [10][39]
BAT99-93 Tarantula Nebula 67 165,000 13.446 45,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17]
Sk -69° 200 NGC 2033 67 160,000 11.18 26,300 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Arches-F18 Arches Cluster 66.9 25,000 16.7
J band 		36,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
Arches-F4 WR 102al in Arches Cluster 66.4 25,000 15.63
J band 		36,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [33][34]
BAT99-59 A NGC 2020 66 165,000 13.186
combined 		71,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17][e]
BAT99-104 Tarantula Nebula 66 165,000 12.5 63,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17]
HD 5980 B NGC 346 66 200,000 11.31
combined 		45,000 trinary SIMBAD [72][67]
HD 190429 A near Barnard 146 66 7,800 6.63
combined 		46,000 binary SIMBAD [73][13]
LH 31-1003 NGC 1858 66 160,000 13.186 41,900 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
LH 114-7 N70 66 160,000 13.66 50,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17][o]
Pismis 24-1SW Pismis 24 66 6,500 11.1 40,000 binary SIMBAD [62][64]
BAT99-126 NGC 2081 65 165,000 13.166 71,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17]
HSH95-40 Tarantula Nebula 65 163,000 14.56 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
HSH95-58 Tarantula Nebula 65 163,000 14.8 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
HSH95-89 Tarantula Nebula 65 163,000 14.76 44,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [48]
VFTS 63 Tarantula Nebula 65 164,000 14.4 42,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][51]
VFTS 145 Tarantula Nebula 65 164,000 14.3 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
VFTS 518 Tarantula Nebula 65 164,000 15.11 44,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
Westerhout 49-8 Westerhout 49 65 36,200 15.617
J band 		40,700 evolution SIMBAD [38][39]
BD+43° 3654 Runaway star from Cygnus OB2 64.6 5,400 10.06 40,400 evolution SIMBAD [74][67]
BAT99-129 A DEM L294 64 165,000 14.701
combined 		79,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17][p][e]
HSH95-50 Tarantula Nebula 64 163,000 14.65 47,000 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
Sk -69° 25 NGC 1748 64 160,000 11.886 43,600 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Trumpler 27-23 Trumpler 27 64 3,900 10.09 27,500 evolution SIMBAD [24][21]
Westerhout 49-5 Westerhout 49 64 36,200 15.623
J band 		42,700 evolution SIMBAD [38][39]
HD 46223 NGC 2244 63 5,200 7.28 46,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][13]
HD 64568 NGC 2467 63 16,000 9.39 54,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][21]
HD 303308 Trumpler 16 63 9,200 8.17 51,300 evolution SIMBAD [24][21]
HR 6187 A NGC 6193 63 4,300 5.54
combined 		46,500 Septenary SIMBAD [75][13]
LH 10-3058 NGC 1763 63 160,000 14.089 54,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [16][17]
ST5-71 NGC 2074 63 160,000 13.266 45,400 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
AB9 DEM S80 62 197,000 15.431 100,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [63][53][q]
Brey 32 B NGC 1966 62 165,000 12.32
combined 		43,600 evolution SIMBAD [26][21]
HD 93160 Trumpler 14 62 8,000 7.6 42,700 evolution SIMBAD [24][13]
HSH95-35 Tarantula Nebula 62 163,000 14.43 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
LH 41-1017 NGC 1910 62 160,000 12.266 42,700 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Mercer 30-6a A WR 46-4 A in Mercer 30 62 40,000 10.39
J band 		29,900 evolution SIMBAD [46][g][e]
ST4-18 NGC 2081 62 160,000 13.639 44,800 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
VFTS 664 Tarantula Nebula 62 164,000 13.937 39,900 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][17]
HD 229196 Cygnus OB9 61.6 5,000 8.59 40,900 evolution SIMBAD [74][50]
AB8 B NGC 602 61 197,000 O4V 12.83
combined 		45,000 binary SIMBAD [72][76]
BAT99-79 A NGC 2044 61 165,000 13.486
combined 		42,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [5][17][e]
HD 5980 A NGC 346 61 200,000 11.31
combined 		21,000–53,000 trinary SIMBAD [72][67]
LH 41-18 NGC 1910 61 160,000 12.586 38,500 evolution SIMBAD [26][17]
Mercer 30-9 A Mercer 30 61 40,000 12.25
J band 		34,500 evolution SIMBAD [46][g][e]
ST5-25 NGC 2074 61 160,000 13.551 48,600 evolution SIMBAD [26][28]
VFTS 422 Tarantula Nebula 61 164,000 15.14 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
WR 102hb Quintuplet cluster 61 26,000 13.9
J band 		25,100 evolution SIMBAD [77][78]
Sk -67° 166 GKK-A144 60.68 160,000 12.22 41,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [56][17][r]
Sk -67° 167 GKK-A144 60.68 160,000 12.586 41,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [56][17][r]
Sk -71° 46 BSDL 2242 60.68 160,000 13.241 41,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [56][17][s]
Brey 10 NGC 1770 60 165,000 12.69 117,000 evolution SIMBAD [26][21]
Brey 94 A NGC 2081 60 165,000 12.996
combined 		83,000 evolution SIMBAD [26][17][e]
Brey 95a A NGC 2081 60 165,000 12.2
combined 		83,000 evolution SIMBAD [26][79][e]
HSH95-55 Tarantula Nebula 60 163,000 14.74 47,500 evolution SIMBAD [22][6]
Mercer 30-7 A WR 46-5 A in Mercer 30 60 40,000 11.516
J band 		41,400 evolution SIMBAD [46][g][e]
R134 Tarantula Nebula 60 164,000 12.75 39,800 spectroscopy SIMBAD [9][6]
R142 Tarantula Nebula 60 164,000 11.82 18,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [65][6]
R143 Tarantula Nebula 60 160,000 12.014 18,000–36,000 evolution SIMBAD [54][17]
Sk -69° 142a NGC 1983 60 160,000 11.093 34,000 evolution SIMBAD [54][57]
Sk -69° 259 NGC 2081 60 160,000 11.93 23,000 evolution SIMBAD [26][21]
Var 83 Triangulum Galaxy 60 3,000,000 16.027 18,000–37,000 evolution SIMBAD [80][81]
VFTS 430 Tarantula Nebula 60 164,000 15.11 24,500 spectroscopy SIMBAD [65][6]


A few notable large stars with masses less than 60 M☉ are shown in the table below for the purpose of comparison, ending with the Sun, which is very close, but would otherwise be too small to be included in the list. At present, all the listed stars are naked-eye visible and relatively nearby.

Star name Location Mass
(M☉, Sun = 1) 		Approx. dist.
(ly) 		Appt. vis. mag. Eff. temp.
(K) 		Mass est.
method 		Link Ref.
λ Cephei Runaway star from Cepheus OB3 51.4 3,100 5.05 36,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [73][13]
τ Canis Majoris Aa NGC 2362 50 5,120 4.89 32,000 evolution SIMBAD [82][13]
θ Muscae Ab Centaurus OB1 44 7,400 5.53
combined 		33,000 evolution SIMBAD [83][13]
ε Orionis Alnilam in Orion OB1 of Orion complex 40 2,000 1.69 27,500 evolution SIMBAD [84][13]
θ2 Orionis A Orion OB1 of Orion complex 39 1,500 5.02 34,900 evolution SIMBAD [85][86]
α Camelopardalis Runaway star from NGC 1502 37.6 6,000 4.29 29,000 evolution SIMBAD [87][13]
P Cygni IC 4996 of Cygnus OB1 37 5,100 4.82 18,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [88][13][t]
ζ1 Scorpii NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1 36 8,210 4.705 17,200 spectroscopy SIMBAD [35][89]
ζ Orionis Aa Alnitak in Orion OB1 of Orion complex 33 1,260 2.08 29,500 evolution SIMBAD [90]
θ1 Orionis C1 Trapezium Cluster of Orion complex 33 1,340 5.13
combined 		39,000 evolution SIMBAD [91][13]
κ Cassiopeiae Cassiopeia OB14 33 4,000 4.16 23,500 evolution SIMBAD [92][13]
μ Normae NGC 6169 33 3,260 4.91 28,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [93][13]
η Carinae B Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula 30 7,500 4.3
combined 		37,200 binary SIMBAD [94][45]
γ2 Velorum B Vela OB2 28.5 1,230 1.83
combined 		35,000 evolution SIMBAD [95][13]
Meissa A In Collinder 69 of Orion complex 27.9 1,100 3.54 37,700 spectroscopy SIMBAD [93][96]
ξ Persei Menkib in California Nebula of Perseus OB2 26.1 1,200 4.04 35,000 evolution SIMBAD [87][13]
ζ Puppis Naos in Vela R2 of Vela Molecular Ridge 25.3±5.3 1,080 2.25 40,000 empirical SIMBAD [97][13][u]
WR 79a NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1 24.4 5,600 5.77 35,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [93][13]
Mintaka Aa1 In Orion OB1 of Orion complex 24 1,200 2.5
combined 		29,500 evolution SIMBAD [98][99]
ι Orionis Aa1 Hatysa in NGC 1980 of Orion complex 23.1 1,340 2.77
combined 		32,500 evolution SIMBAD [100][101]
κ Crucis Jewel Box Cluster of Centaurus OB1 23 7,500 5.98 16,300 evolution SIMBAD [102][67]
WR 78 NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1 22 4,100 6.48 50,100 spectroscopy SIMBAD [31][32]
ο2 Canis Majoris Field star 21.4 2,800 3.043 15,500 evolution SIMBAD [93][13]
Rigel A In Orion OB1 of Orion complex 21 860 0.13 12,100 evolution SIMBAD [103][13]
η Canis Majoris Aludra in Collinder 121 21 2,000 2.45 15,000 evolution SIMBAD [92][13]
ζ Ophiuchi Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2 20.2 370 2.569 34,000 evolution SIMBAD [87][13]
υ Orionis Orion OB1 of Orion complex 20 2,900 4.618 33,400 evolution SIMBAD [104][105]
σ Orionis Aa Orion OB1 of Orion complex 18 1,260 4.07
combined 		35,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [106][107]
μ Columbae Runaway star from Trapezium Cluster 16 1,300 5.18 33,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [108][13]
Saiph In Orion OB1 of Orion complex 15.5 650 2.09 26,500 evolution SIMBAD [109][13]
σ Cygni Cygnus OB4 15 3,260 4.233 10,800 evolution SIMBAD [110][111]
θ Carinae A IC 2602 of Scorpius OB2 14.9 460 2.76
combined 		31,000 evolution SIMBAD [93][112]
θ2 Orionis B Orion OB1 of Orion complex 14.8 1,500 6.38 29,300 spectroscopy SIMBAD [113]
ζ Persei Perseus OB2 14.5 750 2.86 20,800 evolution SIMBAD [109][13]
σ Orionis B Orion OB1 of Orion complex 14 1,260 4.07
combined 		31,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [106][107]
β Canis Majoris Mirzam in Local Bubble of Scorpius OB2 13.5 490 1.985 23,200 evolution SIMBAD [114][115]
ε Persei A α Persei Cluster 13.5 640 2.88
combined 		26,500 evolution SIMBAD [116][117]
ι Orionis Aa2 NGC 1980 of Orion complex 13.1 1,340 2.77
combined 		27,000 evolution SIMBAD [100][101]
δ Scorpii A Dschubba in Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2 13 440 2.307
combined 		27,400 evolution SIMBAD [118][119]
σ Orionis Ab Orion OB1 of Orion complex 13 1,260 4.07
combined 		29,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [106][107]
θ Muscae Aa WR 48 in Centaurus OB1 11.5 7,400 5.53
combined 		83,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [120][13]
γ2 Velorum A WR 11 in Vela OB2 9 1,230 1.83
combined 		57,000 spectroscopy SIMBAD [95][13]
ρ Ophiuchi A ρ Ophiuchi cloud complex of Scorpius OB2 8.7 360 4.63
combined 		22,000 evolution SIMBAD [93][13]
Bellatrix In Bellatrix Cluster of Orion complex 7.7 250 1.64 21,800 evolution SIMBAD [121][13]
Antares B Loop I Bubble of Scorpius OB2 7.2 550 5.5 18,500 evolution SIMBAD [122][96]
λ Tauri A Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream 7.18 480 3.47
combined 		18,700 evolution SIMBAD [123][124]
δ Persei α Persei Cluster 7 520 3.01 14,900 evolution SIMBAD [93][112]
ψ Persei α Persei Cluster 6.2 580 4.31 16,000 evolution SIMBAD [93][13]
α Pavonis Aa Peacock in Tucana-Horologium association 5.91 180 1.94 17,700 evolution SIMBAD [125][101]
Alcyone In Pleiades 5.9 440 2.87
combined 		12,300 evolution SIMBAD [126][13]
γ Canis Majoris Muliphein in Collinder 121 5.6 440 4.1 13,600 evolution SIMBAD [93][127]
ο Velorum IC 2391 of Scorpius OB2 5.5 490 3.6 16,200 evolution SIMBAD [128][112]
ο Aquarii Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream 4.2 440 4.71 13,500 evolution SIMBAD [129][130]
ν Fornacis Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream 3.65 370 4.69 13,400 evolution SIMBAD [131][13]
φ Eridani Tucana-Horologium association 3.55 150 3.55 13,700 evolution SIMBAD [125][132]
η Chamaeleontis η Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2 3.2 310 5.453 12,500 evolution SIMBAD [133][67]
ε Chamaeleontis ε Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2 2.87 360 4.91 10,900 evolution SIMBAD [134][112]
τ1 Aquarii Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream 2.68 320 5.66 10,600 evolution SIMBAD [135][136]
ε Hydri Tucana-Horologium association 2.64 150 4.12 11,000 evolution SIMBAD [135][137]
β1 Tucanae Tucana-Horologium association 2.5 140 4.37 10,600 evolution SIMBAD [93][96]
Sun Solar System 1 0.0000158 −26.744 5,772 standard IAU [138][139][140]
  1. ^ For some methods, for any one temperature or brightness, different chemical composition indicates a different estimate for stellar mass.
  2. ^ For a binary star, it is possible to measure the individual masses of the two stars by studying their orbital motions, using Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
  3. ^ The superwinds from massive stars are similar to the superwinds generated by asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars – red giants – that form planetary nebulae. These stars' later remnants become the (technically non-stellar) white dwarf cores of planetary nebulae.
  4. ^ For examples of stellar debris see hypernovae and supernova remnant.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o This is a binary system but the secondary is much less massive than the primary.
  6. ^ This unusual measurement was made by assuming the star was ejected from a three-body encounter in NGC 3603. This assumption also means that the current star is the result of a merger between two original close binary components. The mass is consistent with evolutionary mass for a star with the observed parameters.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Mercer 30 is an open cluster in Dragonfish Nebula.
  8. ^ N64 is an emission nebula in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  9. ^ BSDL 1830 is a star cluster in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  10. ^ BSDL 2527 is a star cluster in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  11. ^ BSDL 2505 is a star cluster in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  12. ^ DEM S10 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  13. ^ Bochum 10 is an open cluster in Carina Nebula.
  14. ^ N135 is an emission nebula in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  15. ^ N70 is an emission nebula in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  16. ^ DEM L294 is a H II region in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  17. ^ DEM S80 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  18. ^ a b GKK-A144 is a stellar association in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  19. ^ BSDL 2242 is a star cluster in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  20. ^ IC 4996 is an open cluster in Cygnus OB1.
  21. ^ Vela R2 is a OB association in Vela Molecular Ridge.

Black holes

[edit]
Main articles: Black hole, List of black holes, and List of most massive black holes

Black holes are the end point of the evolution of massive stars.[A] Technically they are not stars, as they no longer generate heat and light via nuclear fusion in their cores. Some black holes may have cosmological origins, and would then never have been stars. This is thought to be especially likely in the cases of the most massive black holes.

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ A very few low / no metallicity stars (populations II and III) between 140–250 M☉ end their lives by a type II-P supernova explosion, which is powerful enough to blow (almost) all matter away from the vicinity of the star, so that not enough material remains to create either a black hole, or a neutron star, or a white dwarf: There is no central remnant; all that remains is an expanding shell of shocked gas from the SN explosion colliding with previously quiescent material ejected before the core collapse explosion.

References

[edit]
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