List of most luminous stars facts for kids
This list of most luminous stars is of Milky Way and Magellanic Cloud objects. A few stars in other local group galaxies can be seen in enough detail to work out their the luminosities. The list is more or less complete for stars down to 2,000,000 times the luminosity of the Sun.
Despite their extreme luminosity, many of these stars are 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.
| Star name | Bolometric luminosity (in solar units) |
Absolute bolometric magnitude |
Approx. distance from solar system (in light years) |
Apparent visible magnitude |
Effective temperature (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R136a1 (in LMC) | 8710000 | −12.5 | 163000 | 12.23 | 53000±3000 |
| Melnick 34 (BAT99-116 in LMC) | 7079000 | −11.9 | 160000 | 13.10 | 53000 |
| M33-013406.63 (in Triangulum Galaxy) | 6400000–10280000 | −12.2 to −12.7 | 2380000–3070000 | 16.1 | |
| WR 25 (in Carina Nebula) | 6300000 | −12.16 | 7500 | 8.80 | 50100 / ? |
| NGC 2363-V1 | 6300000 | −12.16 | 11100000 | 17.88 | 13000–26000 |
| R136c (in LMC) | 5623000 | −12.0 | 160000 | 12.86 | 51000 |
| Eta Carinae (in Carina Nebula) | 5000000 | −12.0 | 7500 | −0.8 to 7.9 | 37200 |
| BAT99-98 (AB12 in LMC) | 5000000 | −12.0 | 165000 | 13.70 | 45000 |
| G0.238-0.071 | 5000000 | −12.0 | 26000 | ||
| HD 38282 (R144 in LMC) | 4500000 | −11.9 | 160000 | 11.11 | 47000 |
| R136a2 (in LMC) | 4266000 | −11.7 | 160000 | 12.34 | 53000 |
| V4998 Sagittarii (near Quintuplet Cluster) | 4000000 | −11.7 | 25000 | 12000 | |
| R136a3 (in LMC) | 3802000 | −11.6 | 160000 | 12.97 | 53000 |
| R136a6 (in LMC) | 3311000 | −11.5 | 165000 | 13.35 | |
| G0.070+0.025 | 3300000 | −11.5 | 26000 | ||
| Var A-1 (in M31) | 3200000 | −11.5 | 2450000 | 17.143 | 20400–28100 |
| Peony Star (WR 102ka) | 3200000 | −11.5 | 26100 | 25100 | |
| VFTS 682 (in LMC) | 3200000 | −11.5 | 160000 | 16.1 | 52210±2500 |
| WR 42e | 3200000 | −11.5 | 25000 | 14.53 | 43652 |
| BAT99-33 (R99 in LMC) | 3200000 | −11.4 | 160000 | 11.45 | 28000 |
| LSS 4067 | 3000000 | −11.4 | 8200 | 11.64 | 32800 |
| NGC 3603-B | 2900000 | −11.3 | 24000 | 11.33 | 42000 |
| G0.059-0.068 | 2880000 | −11.4 | 26000 | ||
| R136a4 (in LMC) | 2884000 | −11.3 | 160000 | 13.96 | 51000±6000 |
| WR 102hb | 2600000 | −11.3 | 26000 | 25100 | |
| AFGL 2298 | 2500000 | −11.25 | 33000 | ||
| Melnick 42 (in LMC) | 2500000 | −11.25 | 160000 | 12.8 | 47300 |
| WR 102ea | 2500000 | −11.25 | 26000 | 25100 | |
| WR 85 | 2500000 | −11.25 | 15300 | 10.03 | 50100 |
| BAT99-117 (R146 in LMC) | 2500000 | −11.2 | 160000 | 13.116 | |
| NGC 3603-A1a | 2500000 | −11.2 | 24000 | 11.18 (combined A1a + A1b) | 42000 |
| LHO 146 | 2500000 | −11.2 | 26000 | 8.7 | ~35000 |
| Var 83 (in M33) | 2240000 | −11.1 | 3000000 | 16.40 | 18000–37000 |
| WR 158 | 2200000 | −11.1 | 26000 | 11.24 | 44700 |
| Arches-F6 | 2300000 | −11.1 | 25000 | 33900 | |
| Arches-F9 | 2300000 | −11.1 | 25000 | 36600 | |
| HD 5980A (in SMC) | 2200000 | −11.1 | 200000 | 11.7 | 21000–53000 |
| WR 24 (in Carina Nebula) | 2200000 | −11.1 | 8200 | 6.48 | 50100 |
| HD 269810 (in LMC) | 2200000 | −11.1 | 170000 | 12.28 | 52500 |
| Cygnus OB2-516 | 2200000 | −11.1 | 5000 | 11.84 | |
| BAT99-96 (in LMC) | 2200000 | −11.1 | 160000 | 13.76 | |
| G0.058+0.014 | 2140000 | −11.1 | 26000 | ||
| R136a5 (in LMC) | 2089000 | −11.0 | 165000 | 13.71 | ~50000 |
| LBV 1806-20 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 38700 | 18000–32000 | |
| Arches-F4 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 25000 | 36800 | |
| WR 82 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 17200 | 11.55 | 56200 |
| WR 131 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 38600 | 12.08 | 44700 |
| WR 147 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 2100 | 14.89 | 39800 |
| Arches-F7 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 25000 | 32900 | |
| Arches-F1 | 2000000 | −11.0 | 25000 | 33200 | |
| WR 22 A in Carina Nebula | 2000000 | −11.0 | 8200 | 6.42 | 44700 |
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Estrellas más luminosas para niños
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List of most luminous stars Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.