The biggest star in the Milky Way galaxy

Among all the observed celestial bodies , it is quite difficult to establish which is the largest star in our galaxy. This is associated with huge distances in space and the complexity of observations with subsequent analysis of the data obtained. To date, scientists have been able to detect and register about 50 billion luminaries. More advanced technology allows you to explore remote corners of the cosmos and get new information about objects.

Estimation and search for supergiants in space

Modern astrophysics in the process of space exploration is constantly confronted with a large number of questions. The reason for this is the huge size of the visible universe, about fourteen billion light years. Sometimes, watching the star, it is difficult to estimate the distance to it. Therefore, before heading out in search of a definition, which is the biggest star in our galaxy, it is necessary to understand the level of complexity of observing space objects.

Earlier, before the beginning of the twentieth century, it was believed that our galaxy is one. Visible other galaxies were considered to be nebulae. But Edwin Hubble dealt a crushing blow to the views of the learned world. He claimed that galaxies are many, and ours is not the largest.

The cosmos is incredibly huge

The distances to the nearest galaxies are enormous. They reach hundreds of millions of years. For astrophysicists, it is rather problematic to determine which is the largest star in our galaxy. Therefore, it is even more difficult to speak about other galaxies with trillions of stars, at a distance of one hundred million light years or more. In the process of research, new objects are opened. Discovered stars are compared and determined by the most unique and large.

Supergiant in the constellation Shield

The name of the biggest star in our galaxy is UY Shield, a red supergiant. It is a variable star, the size of which varies from 1700 to 2000 diameters of the Sun.

Our brain is not capable of representing such quantities. Therefore, in order to fully understand what size the largest star in the galaxy is, it is necessary to compare it with the quantities that are understandable for us. For comparison, our solar system is suitable. The size of the star is so large that if it is placed in the place of our Sun, then the limit of the supergiant will be in orbit of Saturn.

And our planet and Mars will be inside the star. The distance to this "monster" of space is about 9600 light years.

The largest star in the Milky Way galaxy - UY Shield - can only be conditionally considered "king". The reasons are obvious. One of them is huge space distances and cosmic dust, complicating obtaining accurate data. Another problem is directly related to the physical properties of supergiants. With a diameter of 1700 times more than our heavenly body, the largest star in our galaxy is 7-10 times massive. It turns out that the density of the supergiant is millions of times smaller than the ambient air. Its density is comparable to the atmosphere of the Earth at an altitude of about one hundred kilometers above sea level. Therefore, it is quite problematic to determine exactly where the boundaries of the star end and its "wind" begins.

At the moment, the largest star in our galaxy is at the end of the cycle of its development. It expanded (the same process will occur with our Sun at the end of evolution) and began to actively burn helium and a number of other elements heavier than hydrogen. After several million years, the largest star in the galaxy - UY Shield - will turn into a yellow supergiant. And in the future - in a bright blue variable, and possibly in the Wolf-Rayet star.

Along with the "king" - the supergiant UY Shield - you can mark about ten stars with similar dimensions. These include VY Big Dog, Cepheus A, NML Cygnus, WOH G64 VV and a number of others.

It is known that all the largest stars are short-lived and very unstable. Such stars can exist for millions of years, and several millennia, ending their life cycle in the form of a supernova or black hole.

The biggest star in the galaxy: the search continues

Observing the serious changes over the past twenty years, it is worth assuming that over time our understanding of the possible parameters of supergiants will differ from those previously known. And it is quite possible that in the next few years another supergiant will be opened, with a larger mass or size. And new discoveries will prompt scientists to revise previously adopted dogmas and definitions.