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List of most luminous stars

Stars sorted by absolute magnitude From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of most luminous stars
This article is about intrinsic luminosity of stars (absolute magnitude). For the brightness of stars as seen from Earth (apparent magnitude), see list of brightest stars.

This is a list of stars arranged by their absolute magnitude – their intrinsic stellar luminosity. This cannot be observed directly, so instead must be calculated from the apparent magnitude (the brightness as seen from Earth), the distance to each star, and a correction for interstellar extinction. The entries in the list below are further corrected to provide the bolometric magnitude, i.e. integrated over all wavelengths; this relies upon measurements in multiple photometric filters and extrapolation of the stellar spectrum based on the stellar spectral type and/or effective temperature.

Thumb
A near-infrared image of the R136 cluster. This cluster contains many of the most luminous known stars, including R136a1. Credit: ESO/VLT

Entries give the bolometric luminosity in multiples of the luminosity of the Sun (L☉) and the bolometric absolute magnitude. As with all magnitude systems in astronomy, the latter scale is logarithmic and inverted i.e. more negative numbers are more luminous.

Most stars on this list are not bright enough to be visible to the naked eye from Earth, because of their high distances, high extinction, or because they emit most of their light outside the visible range. For a list of the brightest stars seen from Earth, see the list of brightest stars. There are three stars with over 1 million L☉ and visible to the naked eye: WR 22, WR 24 and Eta Carinae. All of these stars are located in the Carina nebula.

Measurement

Summarize
Perspective

Accurate measurement of stellar luminosities is difficult, even when the apparent magnitude is measured accurately, for four reasons:

  1. The distance d to the star must be known, to convert apparent to absolute magnitude. Absolute magnitude is the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 10 parsecs (~32 light years) away from the viewer. Because apparent brightness decreases as the square of the distance (i.e. as 1/d2), a small error (e.g. 10%) in determining d implies an error ~2× as large (thus 20%) in luminosity (see binomial approximation). Stellar distances are only directly measured accurately out to d ~1,000 light years.[citation needed]
  2. The observed magnitudes must be corrected for the absorption or extinction of intervening interstellar or circumstellar dust and gas. This correction can be enormous and difficult to determine precisely. For example, until accurate infrared observations became possible ~50 years ago, the Galactic Center of the Milky Way was totally obscured to visual observations.
  3. The magnitudes at the wavelengths measured must be corrected for those not observed. "Absolute bolometric magnitude" (which term is redundant, practically speaking, since bolometric magnitudes are nearly always "absolute", i.e. corrected for distance) is a measure of the star's luminosity, summing over its emission at all wavelengths, and thus the total amount of energy radiated by a star every second. Bolometric magnitudes can only be estimated by correcting for unobserved portions of the spectrum that have to be modelled, which is always an issue, and often a large correction. The list is dominated by hot blue stars which produce the majority of their energy output in the ultraviolet, but these may not necessarily be the brightest stars at visual wavelengths.
  4. A large proportion of stellar systems discovered with very high luminosity have later been found to be binary. Usually, this results in the total system luminosity being reduced and spread among several components. These binaries are common both because the conditions that produce high mass high luminosity stars also favour multiple star systems, but also because searches for highly luminous stars are inevitably biased towards detecting systems with multiple more normal stars combining to appear luminous.[citation needed]

Because of all these problems, other references may give very different values for the most luminous stars (different ordering or different stars altogether). Data on different stars can be of somewhat different reliability, depending on the attention one particular star has received as well as largely differing physical difficulties in analysis (see the Pistol Star for an example). The last stars in the list are familiar nearby stars put there for comparison, and not among the most luminous known. It may also interest the reader to know that the Sun is more luminous than approximately 95% of all known stars in the local neighbourhood (out to, say, a few hundred light years), due to enormous numbers of somewhat less massive stars that are cooler and often much less luminous. For perspective, the overall range of stellar luminosities runs from dwarfs less than 1/10,000th as luminous as the Sun to supergiants over 1,000,000 times more luminous.

Data

Summarize
Perspective
Legend
Wolf–Rayet star
Luminous blue variable
O-type star
B-type star
A-type star
F-type star
G-type star

This list is currently limited mostly to objects in our galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds, but a few stars in other local group galaxies can now be examined in enough detail to determine their luminosities. Some suspected binaries in this magnitude range are excluded because there is insufficient information about the luminosity of the individual components. Selected fainter stars are also shown for comparison. Despite their extreme luminosity, many of these stars 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. Thanks to gravitational lensing, stars that are strongly magnified can be seen at much larger distances. The first star in the list, Godzilla[1] — an LBV in the distant Sunburst galaxy — is probably the brightest star ever observed, although it is believed to be undergoing a temporary episode of increased luminosity that has lasted at least seven years, in a similar manner to the Great Eruption of Eta Carinae that was witnessed in the 19th century.

The first list shows a few of the known stars with an estimated luminosity of 1 million L☉ or greater, including the stars in open cluster, OB association and H II region. The majority of stars thought to be more than 1 million L☉ are shown, but the list is incomplete.

The second list gives some notable stars for the purpose of comparison.

More information Star name, Approx. distance from Earth (ly) ...
Stars with 1 million L☉ or greater
Star name Bolometric
luminosity
(L☉, Sun = 1)		 Absolute
bolometric
magnitude		 Approx. distance
from Earth (ly)		 Apparent
visible magnitude		 Effective temperature (K) Spectral type Link Reference
LGGS J004246.86+413336.4 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 19,953,000 -13.5 2,500,000 17.791 40,000 O3-O5If SIMBAD [2][3]
NGC 2363-V1 (in NGC 2366) 6,300,000 -12.26 10,800,000 17.88 13,500-26,000 LBV (in an outburst state) SIMBAD [4]
BAT99-98 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 5,012,000 -12.01 165,000 13.38 45,000 WN6 SIMBAD [5][6]
G0.238-0.071 (in Galactic Center) 5,012,000 -12.01 26,000 14.37 (J band) 39,500-44,000 WN11h SIMBAD [7][8]
LGGS J004158.87+405316.7 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 5,012,000 -12 2,500,000 18.416 30,000 O9.5Ia SIMBAD [2][3]
[BMS2003] 867 A (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 4,932,000 -12 2,700,000 16.29 (combined) 42,400 O4Iab SIMBAD [9]
R136a1 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 4,677,000 -11.94 163,000 12.28 46,000 WN5h SIMBAD [10][11]
M33-013406.63 A (in Triangulum Galaxy) 4,677,000 -11.935 3,000,000 16.084 (combined) 30,000 O9.5Ia SIMBAD [12][13][a]
[BMS2003] 867 B (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 4,395,000 -11.87 2,700,000 16.29 (combined) 42,400 O4Ia SIMBAD [9]
Westerhout 49-2 (in Westerhout 49) 4,365,000 -11.86 36,200 18.246 (J band) 35,500 O2-3.5If* SIMBAD [14][15]
HD 37836 (in LMC) 4,169,000 -11.81 163,000 10.55 28,200 B0Iae SIMBAD [16]
Sk -69° 249 A (in NGC 2074 of LMC) 4,130,000 -11.8 160,000 10.68 38,900 O7If SIMBAD [17][18]
η Carinae A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 4,000,000 -11.77 7,500 ~4 (combined) 9,400-35,200 LBV SIMBAD [19][20][21][22][b]
R136c (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,802,000 -11.71 163,000 13.43 51,000 WN5h SIMBAD [23][6]
Arches-F7 (WR 102aj in Arches Cluster) 3,802,000 -11.71 25,000 15.74 (J band) 32,900 WN8-9h SIMBAD [24][25]
V1429 Aquilae 3,802,000 -11.71 12,800 9.89 ~30,000 B3Ibe SIMBAD [26]
R136a3 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,631,000 -11.66 163,000 12.97 50,000 WN5h SIMBAD [10][11]
Melnick 42 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,631,000 -11.66 163,000 12.78 47,300 O2If* SIMBAD [27][6]
Mercer 23-2 (WR 125–3 in Mercer 23 near Galactic plane) 3,631,000 -11.66 21,200 8.646 (J band) 38,000 WNL7-8 SIMBAD [28][15][c]
R136a2 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,548,000 -11.64 163,000 12.34 50,000 WN5h SIMBAD [10][11]
NGC 2403 V14 (in NGC 2403) 3,436,000 -11.6 10,314,000 18.83 7,000 F5Ie SIMBAD [29]
G0.070+0.025 (in Galactic Center) 3,311,000 -11.56 26,000 14.799 (J band) 45,000 O4-6If+ SIMBAD [7]
Mercer 30-1 A (WR 46-3 A in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 3,236,000 -11.535 40,000 10.33 (J band) 32,200 O6-7.5If+ SIMBAD [30][d]
VFTS 682 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,236,000 -11.535 164,000 16.08 52,200 WN5h SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 42e (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 3,200,000 -11.523 25,000 14.53 43,000 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD [31][e]
R99 (in N44 of LMC) 3,162,000 -11.51 163,000 11.52 28,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [5][32]
VFTS 1022 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 3,020,000 -11.46 164,000 13.47 42,200 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 24 (in Collinder 228 of Carina Nebula) 2,951,000 -11.435 8,200 6.48 50,100 WN6ha-w SIMBAD [33][34]
Peony Star (WR 102ka in Peony Nebula near Galactic Center) 2,951,000 -11.435 26,000 12.978 (J band) 25,100 WN10 SIMBAD [35]
CXOGC J174528.6-285605 (WR 101–6 in Galactic Center) 2,884,000 -11.41 26,000 14.46 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [25]
G0.059-0.068 (in Galactic Center) 2,884,000 -11.41 26,000 13.337 (J band) 39,500-44,000 B0-1Ia+/WNLh SIMBAD [7][8]
HD 97950 B (WR 43b in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 2,884,000 -11.41 24,000 11.33 42,000 WN6h SIMBAD [36][37]
Sextans A 408 (in Sextans A) 2,856,000 -11.4 4,658,000 13.46 (J band) 5,800 G2la [38]
HD 38282 A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,754,000 -11.35 163,000 11.11 (combined) 50,000 WN5-6h SIMBAD [39]
Melnick 34 A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,692,000 -11.335 163,000 13.09 (combined) 63,000 WN5h SIMBAD [40][6]
WR 102hb (in Quintuplet Cluster) 2,630,000 -11.31 26,000 13.9 (J band) 25,100 WN9h SIMBAD [41][42]
[BMS2003] 578 C (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 2,564,000 -11.28 2,700,000 15.97 (combined) 34,000 O9II SIMBAD [9]
BAT99-80 A (in NGC 2044 of LMC) 2,512,000 -11.26 165,000 13 (combined) 45,000 O4If SIMBAD [5][43]
R146 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,512,000 -11.26 164,000 13.11 63,000 WN4 SIMBAD [5][6]
HD 97950 A1a (WR 43a A in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 2,455,000 -11.235 24,000 11.18 (combined) 42,000 WN6h SIMBAD [36][37]
WR 102ea (in Quintuplet Cluster) 2,455,000 -11.235 26,000 13.18 (J band) 25,100 WN9h SIMBAD [41][42]
HD 38282 B (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,455,000 -11.235 163,000 11.11 (combined) 45,000 WN6-7h SIMBAD [39]
CXOGC J174516.1-284909 (WR 101–2 in Galactic Center) 2,399,000 -11.21 26,000 11.49 (J band) 20,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [25]
CXOGC J174711.4-283006 (WR 102–9 in Galactic Center) 2,399,000 -11.21 26,000 16.56 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [25]
WR 25 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 2,399,000 -11.21 6,800 8.8 (combined) 50,100 O2.5If*/WN6 SIMBAD [33][32][f]
LGGS J004444.52+412804.0 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 2,377,000 -11.2 2,500,000 18.1 7,000-18,000 F0Ia SIMBAD [44][45]
HD 269327 (in LMC) 2,377,000 -11.2 163,000 10.74 28,200 OB SIMBAD [16]
Sk -69° 212 (in NGC 2044 of LMC) 2,377,000 -11.2 160,000 12.416 45,400 O6If SIMBAD [17][46]
WR 93 (in Pismis 24 of NGC 6357) 2,377,000 -11.2 5,700 10.68 71,000 WC7 SIMBAD [47][32]
Melnick 34 B (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,344,000 -11.185 163,000 13.09 (combined) 53,000 WN5h SIMBAD [40][6]
VVV CL041-8 (WR 62–2 in VVV CL041) 2,344,000 -11.185 13,700 10.146 (J band) 34,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [48][15][g]
Cl 1813-178 #16 (in Cl 1813-178 of W33 Complex) 2,291,000 -11.16 15,300 9.428 (J band) 30,200 O8-O9If SIMBAD [49][15][h]
R136a7 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,291,000 -11.16 163,000 13.97 54,000 O3III(f*) SIMBAD [50][6]
VVV CL074-12 (in VVV CL074) 2,291,000 -11.16 20,000 12.34 (J band) 22,500 B0.5-2I SIMBAD [51][i]
Arches-F6 (WR 102ah in Arches Cluster) 2,239,000 -11.135 25,000 15.75 (J band) 33,900 WN8-9h SIMBAD [24][52]
Arches-F9 (WR 102ae in Arches Cluster) 2,239,000 -11.135 25,000 16.1 (J band) 36,600 WN9h SIMBAD [24][52]
HD 5980 A (in NGC 346 of SMC) 2,239,000 -11.135 200,000 11.31 (combined) 21,000-53,000 WN4 SIMBAD [53][54][j]
HD 97950 C1 (WR 43c A in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 2,239,000 -11.135 24,000 11.89 (combined) 44,000 WN6h SIMBAD [36][37][f]
R136b (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,239,000 -11.135 165,000 13.24 35,500 O4If SIMBAD [50][6]
R145 A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,239,000 -11.135 163,000 12.04 (combined) 50,000 WN6h SIMBAD [55][6]
Var 83 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 2,239,000 -11.135 3,000,000 16.027 18,000-37,000 LBV SIMBAD [56][57]
HD 269810 (in NGC 2032 of LMC) 2,200,000 -10.56 163,000 12.28 52,500 O2III(f*) SIMBAD [16]
CXOGC J174712.2-283121 (WR 102–10 in Galactic Center) 2,188,000 -11.11 26,000 17.06 (J band) 35,000 WN7-8h SIMBAD [25]
VFTS 1021 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,188,000 -11.11 164,000 13.35 39,800 O4 If+ SIMBAD [27][6]
ST5-31 (in NGC 2074 of LMC) 2,168,000 -11.1 160,000 12.273 50,700 O2-3(n)fp SIMBAD [17][58]
HD 268804 (in LMC) 2,148,000 -11.09 163,000 11.21 28,200 OB SIMBAD [16]
G0.058+0.014 (in Galactic Center) 2,138,000 -11.085 26,000 14.704 (J band) 45,000 O4-6If+ SIMBAD [7]
LGGS J013508.78+303639.9 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 2,138,000 -11.085 2,834,000 14.00 7,464 A9la SIMBAD [59]
R145 B (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,138,000 -11.085 163,000 12.04 (combined) 43,000 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD [55][6]
WR 89 (in HM 1) 2,138,000 -11.085 9,500 11.02 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD [33][18]
R136a5 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 2,089,000 -11.06 163,000 13.71 48,000 O2I(n)f* SIMBAD [50][6]
AFGL 2298 (near Galactic plane) 2,000,000 -11.013 33,000 12.164 (J band) 15,500-26,000 B8I SIMBAD [60][15][k]
Arches-F1 (WR 102ad in Arches Cluster) 1,995,000 -11.01 25,000 16.3 (J band) 33,200 WN8-9 SIMBAD [24][52]
Arches-F4 (WR 102al in Arches Cluster) 1,995,000 -11.01 25,000 15.63 (J band) 36,800 WN7-8 SIMBAD [24][52]
M33C-15731 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,995,000 -11.01 2,834,000 16.819 (V band) 20,000 LBV SIMBAD [45]
CXOGC J174656.3-283232 (WR 102–8 in Galactic Center) 1,995,000 -11.01 26,000 16.74 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [25]
LBV 1806-20 (in G10.0–0.3 of Galactic Center) 1,995,000 -11.01 28,000 13.66 (J band) 18,000-32,000 O9 - B2 SIMBAD [61][15][l]
Mercer 81-2 (WR 76–7 in Mercer 81 of G338.4+0.2) 1,995,000 -11.01 35,900 13.25 (J band) 36,000 WN7-8 SIMBAD [62][m]
VFTS 545 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,995,000 -11.01 164,000 13.32 47,300 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 147S (in Cygnus OB2) 1,995,000 -11.01 5,800 13.86 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD [33][63]
10584-9-1 (in Messier 81) 1,977,000 -11.0 11,842,000 19.1 18,000 sgB[e] SIMBAD [29]
2MASS J04542610-6911022 (in LMC) 1,959,000 -10.99 163,000 12.68 37,200 O7V SIMBAD [16]
DBSB 179-15 (WR 84–6 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,950,000 -10.985 25,800 12.5 (J band) 37,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [64][65][n]
G0.114+0.021 (WR 102–12 in Galactic Center) 1,950,000 -10.985 26,000 16.672 (J band) 40,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [7]
AB6 A (in NGC 371 of SMC) 1,905,000 -10.96 197,000 12.3 (combined) 80,000 WN3:h SIMBAD [53][66]
R136a4 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,905,000 -10.96 163,000 13.41 50,000 O3 V((f*))(n) SIMBAD [50][6]
Westerhout 49-1 (in Westerhout 49) 1,905,000 -10.96 36,200 15.531 (J band) 44,700 O2-3.5If* SIMBAD [14][15]
WR 22 A (in Bochum 10 of Carina Nebula) 1,905,000 -10.96 8,200 6.42 (combined) 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD [33][32][o]
HD 269219 (in LMC) 1,888,000 -10.95 163,000 10.87 28,200 OB SIMBAD [16]
HSH95-36 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,862,000 -10.935 163,000 14.41 49,500 O2 If∗ SIMBAD [50][6]
Hen 3-519 (WR 31a in Blue Bubble Nebula) 1,820,000 -10.91 24,000 10.85 30,200 WN11h SIMBAD [67][54][p]
W61 3-20 (in LMC) 1,820,000 -10.91 163,000 13.55 39,800 O5-6V((f))z SIMBAD [16]
Westerhout 51-57 (in Westerhout 51) 1,820,000 -10.91 20,000 16.958 (J band) 42,700 O4 V SIMBAD [68][15]
LGGS J004051.59+403303.0 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,803,000 -10.9 2,500,000 16.989 18,000-24,000 LBV SIMBAD [44][13]
MSX5C G358.5391+00.1305 (in Wray 17-96) 1,800,000 -10.898 15,000 15 13,000 B[e]: SIMBAD [69][18][q]
HD 5980 B (in NGC 346 of SMC) 1,778,000 -10.885 200,000 11.31 (combined) 45,000 WN4 SIMBAD [53][37]
WR 130 (in Cygnus OB3) 1,778,000 -10.885 21,700 12.13 44,700 WN8(h) SIMBAD [33][18]
WR 21a A (Runaway star from Westerlund 2) 1,778,000 -10.885 14,300 12.661 (combined) 45,000 O3/WN5ha SIMBAD [70][18]
V4650 Sagittarii (in Quintuplet cluster) 1,770,000 -12.5 – -10.9 25,000 12.31 (J band) 11,300 LBV SIMBAD [71][15][42]
CXOGC J174536.1-285638 (WR 101–1 in Galactic Center) 1,738,000 -10.86 26,000 15.55 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [25]
Mercer 30-7 A (WR 46-5 A in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,738,000 -10.86 40,000 11.516 (J band) 41,400 WN6 SIMBAD [30][d]
R136a6 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,738,000 -10.86 163,000 13.35 52,000 O2I(n)f*p SIMBAD [50][6]
VFTS 506 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,738,000 -10.86 164,000 13.31 47,300 ON2V((n))((f*)) SIMBAD [27][6]
HD 35342 B (in LMC) 1,722,000 -10.85 163,000 11.28 24,000 B0.5I SIMBAD [16]
CPD -69 471 (in LMC) 1,706,000 -10.84 163,000 12.37 42,700 O2-3(n)fp SIMBAD [16]
DBSB 179-20 (WR 84–1 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,698,000 -10.835 25,800 12.37 (J band) 35,000 WN8-9 SIMBAD [64][65][n]
R147 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,698,000 -10.835 164,000 13.02 50,000 WN5h SIMBAD [5][6]
VFTS 16 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,698,000 -10.835 164,000 13.55 53,100 O2IIIf* SIMBAD [27][6]
V4998 Sagittarii (near Quintuplet Cluster) 1,685,000 -10.83 25,000 12.534 (J band) 11,550 LBV SIMBAD [72]
Cygnus OB2 #12 A (in Cygnus OB2) 1,660,000 -10.81 5,000 11.702 (combined) 13,700 B3–4 Ia+ SIMBAD [73][74][f]
PGMW 3120 (in LMC) 1,644,000 -10.8 163,000 12.47 39,800 O5.5V((f*)) SIMBAD [16]
Sher 18 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,644,000 -10.8 25,000 12.51 39,500 O3.5If SIMBAD [37][75]
Sher 47 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,644,000 -10.8 25,000 12.67 44,000 O4V SIMBAD [37][75]
Mercer 23-1 (in Mercer 23 near Galactic plane) 1,622,000 -10.785 21,200 10.615 (J band) 35,000 O5.5I SIMBAD [28][15][c]
VFTS 1017 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,622,000 -10.785 164,000 14.52 50,100 O2 If*/WN5 SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 87 (in HM 1) 1,622,000 -10.785 9,500 11.83 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD [33][18]
HD 269896 (in LMC) 1,600,000 -10.77 163,000 11.36 29,500 ON9.7Ia+ SIMBAD [16]
Pistol Star (V4647 Sagittarii in Quintuplet cluster) 1,600,000 -10.77 25,000 11.79 (J band) 11,800 LBV SIMBAD [76]
J025941.21+251412.2 (in NGC 1156) 1,600,000 -10.77 23,000,000 LBV SIMBAD [77]
Melnick 39 A (in Tarantula Nebula) 1,600,000 160,000 13.0 (combined) 44,000 O2.5 If/WN6 SIMBAD [78]
AF Andromedae (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,585,000 -10.76 2,500,000 17.325 28,000 LBV SIMBAD [56][13]
Arches-F12 (WR 102af in Arches Cluster) 1,585,000 -10.76 25,000 16.4 (J band) 36,900 WN7-8 SIMBAD [24][52]
HSH95-18 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,585,000 -10.76 163,000 13.87 47,000 O3III(f+) SIMBAD [6]
LHO 110 (WR 102df in Quintuplet cluster) 1,585,000 -10.76 26,000 13.87 (J band) 25,100 O6–8If SIMBAD [41][42]
R140a1 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,585,000 -10.76 163,000 12.12 (combined) 34,000 WN4 SIMBAD [6]
BI 265 (in LMC) 1,585,000 -10.76 163,000 12.38 40,700 O5III(fc) SIMBAD
VFTS 457 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,585,000 -10.76 164,000 13.74 39,800 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 107 (in Sagittarius OB1) 1,585,000 -10.76 9,400 13.51 50,100 WN8 SIMBAD [33][18]
WR 140 B (in Cygnus OB1) 1,585,000 -10.76 5,300 6.85 (combined) 35,000 O5 SIMBAD [79][32]
WR 148 A (Runaway star from Galactic plane) 1,585,000 -10.76 27,100 10.3 (combined) 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD [33][32]
CXOGC J174617.0-285131 (in Galactic Center) 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 14.98 (J band) 40,000 O6If+ SIMBAD [25]
CXOGC J174725.3-282709 (in Galactic Center) 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 16.37 (J band) 30,000 O4-6I SIMBAD [25]
Sk -68° 137 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,549,000 -10.735 160,000 13.346 55,000 OB SIMBAD [80][46]
WR 102i (in Quintuplet cluster) 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 14.31 (J band) 31,600 WN9h SIMBAD [41][42]
HD 97950 A1b (WR 43a B in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,514,000 -10.71 24,000 11.18 (combined) 40,000 WN6h SIMBAD [36][37]
Westerhout 49-3 (in Westerhout 49) 1,514,000 -10.71 36,200 16.689 (J band) 40,700 O3-O7V SIMBAD [14][15]
Brey 21 A (in NGC 1910 of LMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 165,000 11.29 (combined) 71,000 WN SIMBAD [17][18]
HD 97950 A2 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,500,000 -10.7 24,000 12.53 46,500 O3V SIMBAD [37][75]
HM 1-6 (in HM 1) 1,500,000 -10.7 11,000 11.64 44,700 O5.5Ifc SIMBAD [47][81]
LGGS J013245.41+303858.3 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,500,000 -10.7 3,000,000 17.612 34,000 Ofpe SIMBAD [2][13]
NGC 346-W1 (in NGC 346 of SMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 200,000 12.57 43,400 O4If SIMBAD [17][66]
Sk -65° 47 (in NGC 1923 of LMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 160,000 12.466 47,800 O4If SIMBAD [17][46]
Sk 80 (in NGC 346 of SMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 200,000 12.31 38,900 O7Iaf+ SIMBAD [17][82]
10584-4-1 (in Messier 81) 1,500,000 -10.7 11,842,000 19.68 19,671 sgB[e] SIMBAD [29]
Object #A (in NGC 4068) 1,500,000 -10.7 14,220,000 21.145 40,000 WN [83]
HD 93129 Aa (in Trumpler 14 of Carina Nebula) 1,479,000 -10.685 7,500 6.9 (combined) 42,500 O2If* SIMBAD [84][32]
R136a8 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,479,000 -10.685 163,000 14.42 49,500 O2–3V SIMBAD [50][85]
SK -67 150 (in LMC) 1,472,000 -10.68 163,000 12.24 41,700 OB SIMBAD [16]
[HCD2002] 107 (in LMC) 1,445,000 -10.66 163,000 13.79 40,700 O4-6Vz SIMBAD [16]
VFTS 542 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,445,000 -10.66 164,000 13.49 44,700 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD [27][6]
Z15 (in Messier 81) 1,445,000 -10.66 11,800,000 20.495 25,000 B0.5 SIMBAD [86]
AB8 A (in NGC 602 of SMC) 1,413,000 -10.635 197,000 12.9 (combined) 141,000 WO4 SIMBAD [53][87]
Arches-F15 (in Arches Cluster) 1,413,000 -10.635 25,000 16.12 (J band) 35,600 O4-6If SIMBAD [24][52]
CXOGC J174550.2-284911 (WR 102–4 in Galactic Center) 1,413,000 -10.635 26,000 15.24 (J band) 30,000 WN9h SIMBAD [25]
DBSB 179-4 (WR 84–7 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,413,000 -10.635 25,800 12.25 (J band) 30,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [64][65][n]
LGGS J013235.25+303017.6 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,413,000 -10.635 3,000,000 18.007 33,000 LBV SIMBAD [12][88]
Melnick 33Na A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,413,000 -10.635 164,000 13.79 (combined) 50,000 OC2.5If* SIMBAD [89][90]
R134 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,413,000 -10.635 164,000 12.58 47,000 WN6h SIMBAD [5][6]
S Doradus (in NGC 1910 of LMC) 1,413,000 -10.635 169,000 10.25 20,000 B8/9eq – F0/5:Iae SIMBAD [91][18]
WR 66 (in Circinus OB1) 1,413,000 -10.635 16,900 11.34 44,700 WN8(h) SIMBAD [33][32]
HD 37974 (in N135 of LMC) 1,400,000 -10.625 163,000 10.99 22,500 B0.5Ia+ SIMBAD [92][18][r]
HD 269846 (in LMC) 1,406,000 -10.63 163,000 11.63 28,200 OB SIMBAD [16]
W61 3-24 (in LMC) 1,393,000 -10.62 163,000 14.03 43,700 O3.5V(f+) SIMBAD [16]
VFTS 621 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,380,000 -10.61 164,000 15.39 54,000 O2V((f*))z SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 131 (in Cygnus OB3) 1,380,000 -10.61 22,600 12.08 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD [33][81]
Sk -69° 104 (in NGC 1910 of LMC) 1,368,000 -10.6 160,000 12.1 39,900 O6Ib(f) SIMBAD [17][46]
Var A-1 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,368,000 -10.6 2,500,000 17.143 21,700 LBV SIMBAD [2]
Mercer 30-6a A (WR 46-4 A in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,349,000 -10.585 40,000 10.39 (J band) 29,900 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [30][d]
VFTS 427 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,349,000 -10.585 164,000 13.76 39,800 WN8 SIMBAD [27][6]
Westerhout 51-3 (in Westerhout 51) 1,349,000 -10.585 20,000 16.998 (J band) 39,800 O3-8V SIMBAD [68][15]
HD 269722 (in LMC) 1,343,000 -10.58 163,000 11.52 28,200 OBe SIMBAD [16]
CXOGC J174502.8-290859 (in Galactic Center) 1,318,000 -10.56 26,000 13.93 (J band) 33,000 O9I-B0I SIMBAD [25]
HSH95-49 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,318,000 -10.56 163,000 14.75 58,000 O3V SIMBAD [50][6][s]
HD 270145 (in LMC) 1,306,000 -10.55 163,000 12.17 43,700 O6.5Iaf [16]
Westerhout 49-15 (in Westerhout 49) 1,288,000 -10.535 36,200 18.307 (J band) 43,700 O2-3.5If* SIMBAD [14][15]
Westerhout 51d (in Westerhout 51) 1,288,000 -10.535 20,000 15.11 (J band) 42,700 SIMBAD [68][15]
WR 18 (in Carina OB1 of Carina Nebula) 1,288,000 -10.535 12,450 10.83 112,200 WN4-s SIMBAD [33][18]
[BMS2003] 578 B (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 1,285,000 -10.53 2,700,000 15.97 (combined) 32,000 O9Ia SIMBAD [9]
AB7 A (in NGC 371 of SMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 197,000 13.016 (combined) 105,000 WN4 SIMBAD [53][66]
Arches-F3 (WR 102bb in Arches Cluster) 1,259,000 -10.51 25,000 16.06 (J band) 29,600 WN8-9h SIMBAD [24][52]
Arches-F8 (WR 102ag in Arches Cluster) 1,259,000 -10.51 25,000 16.31 (J band) 32,900 WN8-9h SIMBAD [24][52]
HD 50064 (in NGC 2301) 1,259,000 -10.51 9,500 8.21 13,500 B6Ia SIMBAD [93]
HSH95-16 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 163,000 13.65 42,000 OC2.5If* SIMBAD [6]
HSH95-20 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 164,000 13.71 46,000 O2If* SIMBAD [6]
HSH95-46 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 163,000 14.56 47,500 SIMBAD [50][6]
R139 A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 163,000 11.94 (combined) 34,000 O6.5Iafc SIMBAD [94][6]
VFTS 259 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 164,000 13.65 37,700 O6Iaf SIMBAD [27][6]
VFTS 1031 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 164,000 13.89 48,000 O3.5 SIMBAD [6]
NGC 2070 MH 980 (in NGC 2070 of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 163,000 13.68 42,700 O4V SIMBAD [16]
Sk -69° 194 (in NGC 2033 of LMC) 1,247,000 -10.5 160,000 12.131 (combined) 45,000 B0I SIMBAD [17][95]
ST2-22 (in NGC 2044 of LMC) 1,247,000 -10.5 160,000 14.3 51,300 O3.5III(f+) SIMBAD [17][43]
HD 269215 (in LMC) 1,247,000 -10.5 163,000 11.94 36,300 OB SIMBAD [16]
Trumpler 27-27 (in Trumpler 27) 1,247,000 -10.5 8,200 13.31 37,000 O8III((f)) SIMBAD [47][18]
VFTS 1028 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,230,000 -10.485 164,000 13.84 47,300 O3.5-4.5 SIMBAD [27][6]
LGGS J013457.51+304833.3 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,202,000 -10.46 2,834,000 14.63 6,761 F3la SIMBAD [96]
LH 10-3601 (in NGC 1763 of LMC) 1,202,000 -10.46 160,000 13.491 55,000 ON2III(f*) SIMBAD [80][46]
AB1 (in DEM S10 of SMC) 1,175,000 -10.435 197,000 15.238 79,000 WN3 SIMBAD [97][66][t]
BI 253 (Runaway star from Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,175,000 -10.435 164,000 13.76 54,000 O2V-III(n)((f*)) SIMBAD [23][98]
LGGS J013248.26+303950.4 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,175,000 -10.435 3,000,000 17.25 23,000 LBV SIMBAD [12][99]
Mercer 30-8 (WR 46–6 in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,175,000 -10.435 40,000 11.658 (J band) 38,100 WN7 SIMBAD [30][d]
NGC 346-W3 (in NGC 346 of SMC) 1,175,000 -10.435 200,000 12.8 52,500 O2III(f) SIMBAD [80][66]
WR 102d (in Quintuplet cluster) 1,175,000 -10.435 26,000 15.18 (J band) 35,100 WN9h SIMBAD [41][42]
WR 126 (in Vulpecula OB2) 1,175,000 -10.435 24,680 13.29 63,000 WC5 SIMBAD [100][18]
WR 20a A (in Westerlund 2) 1,150,000 -10.412 20,000 13.28 (combined) 43,000 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD [101]
WR 20a B (in Westerlund 2) 1,150,000 -10.412 20,000 13.28 (combined) 43,000 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD [101]
GCIRS 16SW A (WR 101k A in Galactic Center) 1,149,000 -10.411 26,000 15.5 (J band) 24,400 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [102]
GCIRS 16SW B (WR 101k B in Galactic Center) 1,149,000 -10.411 26,000 15.5 (J band) 23,500 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [102]
BAT99-104 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,148,000 -10.41 165,000 14.52 63,000 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD [5][6]
CXOGC J174516.7-285824 (WR 101–3 in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 16.67 (J band) 35,000 WN7-8h SIMBAD [25]
G0.121-0.099 (WR 102–16 in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 14.972 (J band) 40,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD [7]
G359.797+0.037 (in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 16.1 (J band) 30,000 B0-2I SIMBAD [7]
HD 93205 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,148,000 -10.41 7,500 7.75 (combined) 51,300 O3.5Vf SIMBAD [103][32]
HSH95-47 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,148,000 -10.41 163,000 14.72 46,500 O3III SIMBAD [50][6][s]
WR 158 (in Cassiopeia OB1) 1,148,000 -10.41 16,300 11.282 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD [33][74]
WR 28 (in FSR 1555) 1,148,000 -10.41 18,700 12.98 50,100 WN6(h)-w SIMBAD [33][18][u]
HD 303308 (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,138,000 -10.4 7,500 8.17 51,300 O3V SIMBAD [47][32]
M33C-15235 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,138,000 -10.4 3,000,000 17.73 29,200 WN/Of SIMBAD [2][104]
ZH 364 (in Messier 81) 1,138,000 -10.4 11,842,000 19.59 15,860 LBV?e SIMBAD [29]
HD 269700 (in LMC) 1,127,000 -10.39 163,000 10.54 19,500 B1.5Iaeq SIMBAD [16]
AB9 (in DEM S80 of SMC) 1,122,000 -10.385 197,000 15.431 100,000 WN3ha SIMBAD [97][66][v]
Arches-F18 (in Arches Cluster) 1,122,000 -10.385 25,000 16.7 (J band) 36,900 O4-6I SIMBAD [24][52]
BAT99-64 A (in NGC 2033 of LMC) 1,122,000 -10.385 165,000 14.073 (combined) 71,000 WN4o SIMBAD [5][46]
Var B (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,122,000 -10.385 3,000,000 16.208 9,000 LBV SIMBAD [56][13]
VFTS 562 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,122,000 -10.385 164,000 13.66 42,200 O4III(f) SIMBAD [27][6]
WR 37 (in SFC 27 of G291.27-0.71) 1,122,000 -10.385 21,900 16 100,000 WN4-s SIMBAD [33][18][w]
SK -69 98 (in LMC) 1,096,000 -10.36 163,000 12.29 28,200 OB SIMBAD [16]
VFTS 512 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,096,000 -10.36 164,000 14.28 47,700 O2V-III((f*)) SIMBAD [27][6]
Mercer 30-6b (in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,072,000 -10.335 40,000 14.25 (J band) 30,500 O6If SIMBAD [30][d]
VFTS 3 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,072,000 -10.335 164,000 11.56 21,000 B1Ia+ SIMBAD [23][6]
VFTS 151 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,072,000 -10.335 164,000 14.13 42,200 O6.5II(f)p SIMBAD [27][6]
VFTS 603 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,060,000 -10.323 164,000 13.99 43,400 O4III(fc) SIMBAD [105][6]
HD 268605 (in LMC) 1,057,000 -10.32 163,000 11.34 28,200 O9.5/B0Ia SIMBAD [16]
CXOGC J174532.7-285126 (in Galactic Center) 1,047,000 -10.31 26,000 10.72 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD [25]
HD 93403 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,047,000 -10.31 10,000 8.27 (combined) 39,300 O5.5III(fc)var SIMBAD [106][18]
Mercer 30-2 (in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,047,000 -10.31 40,000 12.63 (J band) 21,200 B1-4Ia+ SIMBAD [30][d]
R133 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,047,000 -10.31 163,000 12.49 37,600 O7/8II SIMBAD [27][6]
HD 269786 (in LMC) 1,047,000 -10.31 163,000 11.18 24,000 B1I SIMBAD [16]
HD 97950 E (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,038,000 -10.3 24,000 13.081 46,500 O5.5III(f) SIMBAD [37][75]
Sextans A 285 (in Sextans A) 1,038,000 -10.3 4,658,000 14.52 (J band) 5,700 G3la [107]
HD 229059 (in Berkeley 87) 1,038,000 -10.3 3,200 8.7 26,300 B1Ia SIMBAD [47][32]
M33C-10788 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,038,000 -10.3 3,000,000 17.95 32,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD [2][104]
Sk -69° 200 (in NGC 2033 of LMC) 1,038,000 -10.3 160,000 11.18 26,300 B1I SIMBAD [17][18]
Sk -69° 259 (in NGC 2081 of LMC) 1,038,000 -10.3 160,000 11.93 30,000 B[e] SIMBAD [17][18]
WR 77k (in Westerlund 1) 1,038,000 -10.3 11,000 18.86 35,000 WN7 SIMBAD [108][109]
10182-pr-6 (in NGC 2403) 1,038,000 -10.3 10,314,000 18.79 8,000 A8-F0Ie SIMBAD [29]
[RP2006] 542 (in LMC) 1,028,000 -10.29 163,000 16.75 29,500 B0IV[e] SIMBAD [16]
HD 93250 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,023,000 -10.285 7,500 7.5 (combined) 46,000 O4 IV(fc) SIMBAD [110][32][f]
VFTS 267 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,023,000 -10.285 164,000 13.49 44,700 O3III-I(n)f* SIMBAD [27][6]
VFTS 599 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,023,000 -10.285 164,000 13.8 47,300 O3III(f*) SIMBAD [23][6]
VVV CL074-9 (WR 75–29 in VVV CL074) 1,023,000 -10.285 20,000 15.22 (J band) 37,000 WN7/O4-6If+ SIMBAD [51][i]
WR 156 (in Cepheus OB1) 1,023,000 -10.285 13,400 11.01 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD [33][54]
HD 269050 (in LMC) 1,019,000 -10.28 163,000 11.54 28,200 B0Ia(e?) SIMBAD [16]
Melnick 39 B (in Tarantula Nebula) 1,000,000 160,000 13.0 (combined) 48,000 O3 V-III SIMBAD [78]
Arches-F2 (WR 102aa in Arches Cluster) 1,000,000 -10.26 25,000 17.84 (J band) 33,500 WN8-9 SIMBAD [24][52]
Arches-F14 (WR 102ba in Arches Cluster) 1,000,000 -10.26 25,000 16.38 (J band) 34,500 WN8-9 SIMBAD [24][52]
BAT99-68 (in BSDL 2505 of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.13 45,000 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD [5][111][x]
CXOGC J174628.2-283920 (in Galactic Center) 1,000,000 -10.26 26,000 16.99 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD [25]
CXOGC J174703.1-283119 (in Galactic Center) 1,000,000 -10.26 26,000 16.23 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD [25]
HSH95-28 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.09 48,000 O3V SIMBAD [6]
HSH95-31 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.12 48,000 SIMBAD [50][6][s]
HSH95-57 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.8 47,000 O3III SIMBAD [6]
R135 A (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 13.48 (combined) 50,000 WN7h SIMBAD [5][6]
R140a2 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 12.12 (combined) 34,000 WC5 SIMBAD [6]
R142 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 11.82 (combined) 21,000 B0Ia SIMBAD [6]
VFTS 64 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 164,000 14.62 39,800 O7.5II(f) SIMBAD [27][6]
VFTS 591 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 164,000 12.55 27,000 B0.5Ia SIMBAD [6]
VFTS 1034 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 164,000 13.36 34,000 O8II SIMBAD [6]
VVV CL074-3 (WR 75–28 in VVV CL074) 1,000,000 -10.26 20,000 14.72 (J band) 31,500 WN8 SIMBAD [51][i]
Close

A few notable stars of luminosity less than 1 million L☉ are kept here for the purpose of comparison.

More information Star name, Approx. distance from earth (ly) ...
Star name Bolometric
luminosity
(L☉, Sun = 1)		 Absolute
bolometric
magnitude		 Approx. distance
from earth (ly)		 Apparent
visible magnitude		 Effective
temperature (K)		 Link Reference
ζ1 Scorpii (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 851,000 -10.085 8,210 4.705 17,200 SIMBAD [112][113]
ζ Puppis (Naos in Vela R2 of Vela Molecular Ridge) 813,000 -10.035 1,080 2.25 40,000 SIMBAD [114][32][y]
α Camelopardalis (Runaway star from NGC 1502) 676,000 -9.835 6,000 4.29 29,000 SIMBAD [110][32]
WR 78 (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 631,000 -9.76 4,100 6.48 50,100 SIMBAD [33][34]
λ Cephei (Runaway star from Cepheus OB3) 631,000 -9.76 3,100 5.05 36,000 SIMBAD [114][32]
P Cygni (in IC 4996 of Cygnus OB1) 610,000 -9.723 5,100 4.82 18,700 SIMBAD [115][32][z]
WR 79a (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 603,000 -9.71 5,600 5.77 35,000 SIMBAD [116][32]
ε Orionis (Alnilam in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 537,000 -9.585 2,000 1.69 27,500 SIMBAD [117][32]
η Carinae B (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 400,000 -9.265 7,500 4.3 (combined) 37,200 SIMBAD [118][20]
μ Normae (in NGC 6169) 339,000 -9.085 3,260 4.91 28,000 SIMBAD [119][32]
κ Cassiopeiae (in Cassiopeia OB14) 302,000 -8.96 4,000 4.16 23,500 SIMBAD [117][32]
τ Canis Majoris Aa (in NGC 2362) 299,000 -8.95 5,120 4.89 32,000 SIMBAD [120][32]
θ Muscae Ab (in Centaurus OB1) 295,000 -8.935 7,400 5.53 (combined) 33,000 SIMBAD [121][32]
γ2 Velorum B (in Vela OB2) 280,000 -8.878 1,230 1.83 (combined) 35,000 SIMBAD [122][32]
ξ Persei (Menkib in California Nebula of Perseus OB2) 263,000 -8.81 1,200 4.04 35,000 SIMBAD [110][32]
ζ Orionis Aa (Alnitak in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 250,000 -8.755 1,260 2.08 29,500 SIMBAD [123]
θ Muscae Aa (WR 48 in Centaurus OB1) 234,000 -8.685 7,400 5.53 (combined) 83,000 SIMBAD [124][32]
ο2 Canis Majoris (in Collinder 121) 219,000 -8.61 2,800 3.043 15,500 SIMBAD [125][32]
θ1 Orionis C1 (in Trapezium Cluster of Orion complex) 204,000 -8.535 1,340 5.13 (combined) 39,000 SIMBAD [126][32]
δ Orionis Aa1 (Mintaka in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 191,000 -8.46 1,200 2.5 (combined) 29,500 SIMBAD [127][128]
γ2 Velorum A (WR 11 in Vela OB2) 170,000 -8.336 1,230 1.83 (combined) 57,000 SIMBAD [122][32]
η Canis Majoris (Aludra in Collinder 121) 151,000 -8.21 2,000 2.45 15,000 SIMBAD [117][32]
κ Crucis (in Jewel Box Cluster of Centaurus OB1) 151,000 -8.21 7,500 5.98 16,300 SIMBAD [129][54]
λ Orionis A (Meissa in Collinder 69 of Orion complex) 150,000 -8.2 1,100 3.54 37,700 SIMBAD [130][131]
β Orionis A (Rigel in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 120,000 -7.96 860 0.13 12,100 SIMBAD [132][32]
θ2 Orionis A (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 107,000 -7.833 1,500 5.02 34,900 SIMBAD [133][134]
Betelgeuse 87,100 -7.61 550 0.50 3,600 SIMBAD [135][136]
Antares A 75,900 -7.46 550 0.6–1.6 3,660 SIMBAD [137][138]
ζ Ophiuchi (in Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2) 74,100 -7.435 370 2.569 34,000 SIMBAD [110][32]
ι Orionis Aa1 (Hatysa in NGC 1980 of Orion complex) 68,000 -7.341 1,340 2.77 (combined) 32,500 SIMBAD [139][140]
υ Orionis (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 60,000 -7.205 2,900 4.618 33,400 SIMBAD [141][142]
κ Orionis (Saiph in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 57,000 -7.147 650 2.09 26,500 SIMBAD [120][32]
σ Cygni (in Cygnus OB4) 52,000 -7.06 3,260 4.233 10,800 SIMBAD [143][144]
ζ Persei (in Perseus OB2) 47,000 -6.941 750 2.86 20,800 SIMBAD [120][32]
μ Columbae (Runaway star from Trapezium Cluster) 46,000 -6.91 1,300 5.18 33,000 SIMBAD [145][32]
σ Orionis Aa (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 41,700 -6.81 1,260 4.07 (combined) 35,000 SIMBAD [146][147]
δ Scorpii A (Dschubba in Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2) 38,000 -6.71 440 2.307 (combined) 27,400 SIMBAD [148][149]
ε Persei A (in α Persei Cluster) 28,300 -6.391 640 2.88 (combined) 26,500 SIMBAD [120][150]
θ Carinae A (in IC 2602 of Scorpius OB2) 25,700 -6.284 460 2.76 (combined) 31,000 SIMBAD [120][151]
β Canis Majoris (Mirzam in Local Bubble of Scorpius OB2) 25,000 -6.26 490 1.985 23,200 SIMBAD [152][153]
σ Orionis Ab (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 18,600 -5.934 1,260 4.07 (combined) 29,000 SIMBAD [146][147]
σ Orionis B (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 15,800 -5.757 1,260 4.07 (combined) 31,000 SIMBAD [146][147]
θ2 Orionis B (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 12,300 -5.485 1,500 6.38 29,300 SIMBAD [154]
γ Orionis (Bellatrix in Bellatrix Cluster of Orion complex) 9,210 -5.17 250 1.64 21,800 SIMBAD [155][156]
ι Orionis Aa2 (in NGC 1980 of Orion complex) 8,630 -5.1 1,340 2.77 (combined) 27,000 SIMBAD [139][140]
λ Tauri A (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 5,800 -4.669 480 3.47 (combined) 18,700 SIMBAD [120][157]
ρ Ophiuchi A (in ρ Ophiuchi cloud complex of Scorpius OB2) 4,000 -4.285 360 4.63 (combined) 22,000 SIMBAD [158][32]
δ Persei (in α Persei Cluster) 2,860 -3.901 520 3.01 14,900 SIMBAD [159][151]
α Scorpii B (in Loop I Bubble of Scorpius OB2) 2,820 -3.885 550 5.5 18,500 SIMBAD [160][131]
α Pavonis Aa (Peacock in Tucana-Horologium association) 2,150 -3.593 180 1.94 17,700 SIMBAD [161][140]
η Tauri A (Alcyone in Pleiades) 1,820 -3.409 440 2.87 (combined) 12,300 SIMBAD [162][32]
ο Velorum (in IC 2391 of Scorpius OB2) 1,000 -2.76 490 3.6 16,200 SIMBAD [163][151]
ψ Persei (in α Persei Cluster) 775 -2.483 580 4.31 16,000 SIMBAD [159][32]
γ Canis Majoris (Muliphein in Collinder 121) 715 -2.397 440 4.1 13,600 SIMBAD [159][164]
ο Aquarii (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 340 -1.589 440 4.71 13,500 SIMBAD [159][165]
φ Eridani (in Tucana-Horologium association) 255 -1.276 150 3.55 13,700 SIMBAD [166][167]
ν Fornacis (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 245 -1.233 370 4.69 13,400 SIMBAD [168][32]
ε Chamaeleontis (in ε Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2) 100 -0.26 360 4.91 10,900 SIMBAD [169][151]
η Chamaeleontis (in η Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2) 95 -0.204 310 5.453 12,500 SIMBAD [159][54]
ε Hydri (in Tucana-Horologium association) 60 0.295 150 4.12 11,000 SIMBAD [170][159]
τ1 Aquarii (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 50 0.429 320 5.66 10,600 SIMBAD [159][171]
β1 Tucanae (in Tucana-Horologium association) 40 0.735 140 4.37 10,600 SIMBAD [172][131]
Sun (in Solar System) 1 4.739996 0.0000158 -26.744 5,772 IAU [173][174][175]
Close

Note that even the most luminous stars are much less luminous than the more luminous persistent extragalactic objects, such as quasars. For example, 3C 273 has an average apparent magnitude of 12.8 (when observing with a telescope), but an absolute magnitude of −26.7. If this object were 10 parsecs away from Earth it would appear nearly as bright in the sky as the Sun (apparent magnitude −26.744). This quasar's luminosity is, therefore, about 2 trillion (1012) times that of the Sun, or about 100 times that of the total light of average large galaxies like our Milky Way. (Note that quasars often vary somewhat in luminosity.)

In terms of gamma rays, a magnetar (type of neutron star) called SGR 1806−20, had an extreme burst reach Earth on 27 December 2004. It was the brightest event known to have impacted this planet from an origin outside the Solar System; if these gamma rays were visible, with an absolute magnitude of approximately −29, it would have been brighter than the Sun[dubious – discuss] (as measured by the Swift spacecraft).

The gamma-ray burst GRB 971214 measured in 1998 was at the time thought to be the most energetic event in the observable universe, with the equivalent energy of several hundred supernovae. Later studies pointed out that the energy was probably the energy of one supernova which had been "beamed" towards Earth by the geometry of a relativistic jet.

  1. M33-013406.63, also called LGGS J013406.63+304147.8, was thought of as a star with over 8 million luminosity in the past, but a new reference indicated that M33-013406.63 may be a binary, the primary will be reduced to about 4.5 million luminosity.
  2. Identified as a binary system, or possibly three stars. But the secondary is almost completely swamped by the primary.
  3. Mercer 23 is an open cluster near Galactic plane.
  4. Mercer 30 is an open cluster in Dragonfish Nebula.
  5. The paper mistakenly lists the bolometric magnitude as -10.5 instead of -11.5.
  6. This is a binary system but the secondary is much less luminous than the primary.
  7. VVV CL041 is an open cluster.
  8. Cl 1813-178 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud complex W33 Complex.
  9. VVV CL074 is an open cluster.
  10. Variable, luminosity was five times higher at outburst in 1994.
  11. Luminous blue variable, peak luminosity shown.
  12. G10.0-0.3 is a radio nebula in Galactic Center.
  13. Mercer 81 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud G338.4+0.2.
  14. DBSB 179 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud G347.6+0.2.
  15. Bochum 10 is an open cluster in Carina Nebula.
  16. Blue Bubble Nebula is a Wolf–Rayet nebula around Hen 3-519.
  17. Strictly speaking, MSX5C G358.5391+00.1305 is the name of the star, Wray 17-96 is the name of the nebula.
  18. N135 is an emission nebula in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  19. This parameter is based on the optical-only fits for these stars.
  20. DEM S10 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  21. FSR 1555 is a star cluster.
  22. DEM S80 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  23. SFC 27 is a part of the molecular cloud G291.27-0.71.
  24. BSDL 2505 is a star cluster in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  25. Vela R2 is a OB association in Vela Molecular Ridge.
  26. IC 4996 is an open cluster in Cygnus OB1.

See also

References

External links

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