Table of Contents
Stars come in a wide range of sizes, from tiny to gigantic, with some truly colossal examples. While our Sun appears huge from Earth, it is relatively small compared to the largest stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Among the top ten biggest stars are red supergiants like VY Canis Majoris and Betelgeuse, which are thousands of times larger than the Sun. Other giants, such as UY Scuti and Antares, stand out for their immense size and brightness. These enormous stars highlight the incredible diversity and vast scale of celestial bodies in our galaxy.
10: Antares
Antares, a red supergiant located approximately 550 light years away, is among the largest stars in the Milky Way. It is around 832 times the size of the Sun. If placed in our solar system, Antares would stretch beyond Mars and reach to Jupiter. The star shines at least 70,000 times brighter than the Sun and has a mass about 12 times greater. As Antares nears the end of its life, it is expected to explode as a supernova and could eventually become either a neutron star or a black hole.
9: Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse, a prominent star in the Milky Way, is one of the few stars, besides our Sun, whose surface has been captured in photographs. Located around 640 light-years away in the constellation Orion, Betelgeuse has a diameter about 887 times that of the Sun. As the star approaches the end of its life, Betelgeuse is predicted to explode in a supernova within the next 100,000 years.
8: KW Saggittarii
KW Sagittarii is a colossal supergiant star situated approximately 6,200 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. With a diameter roughly 1,009 times larger than the Sun, it ranks as one of the largest stars in the Milky Way. KW Sagittarii is also exceptionally bright, shining about 200,000 times brighter than the Sun.
7: VV Cephei A
VV Cephei A is a red supergiant star located about 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. It is part of a binary star system with a much smaller companion star. VV Cephei A is roughly 1,050 times larger than the Sun, with some estimates indicating it could be even more massive.
6: Mu Cephei
Mu Cephei, also known as the Garnet Star, is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. It is over 1,200 times the size of the Sun, and if placed in our solar system, it would stretch beyond the orbit of Jupiter. Mu Cephei shines nearly 300,000 times brighter than the Sun, making it one of the brightest red supergiant stars in the Milky Way.
5: KY Cygni
KY Cygni is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Cygnus, about 5,000 light-years away. It is 1,430 times larger than the Sun and shines 273,000 times brighter. Despite its immense brightness, KY Cygni is not visible to the naked eye due to a dense cloud of hydrogen that obstructs much of its light.
4: V354 Cephei
V354 Cephei is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 8,900 light-years away. It is about 1,520 times larger than the Sun, ranking it among the largest stars in the Milky Way. V354 Cephei is also incredibly luminous, with a brightness over 400,000 times greater than the Sun.
3: RW Cephei
RW Cephei is a yellow hypergiant star in the constellation Cepheus, located about 3,500 light-years away. It is estimated to be 1,530 times larger than the Sun, meaning it extends beyond the orbit of Jupiter.
2: VY Canis Majoris
VY Canis Majoris is one of the largest and brightest stars ever observed. Situated about 3,900 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major, it is more than 1,500 times the size of the Sun and has a mass roughly 60 times greater. Its luminosity is around 400,000 times that of the Sun. As a young hypergiant star, VY Canis Majoris is estimated to be less than ten million years old.
1: UY Scuti
UY Scuti is the largest known star in our galaxy and one of the biggest ever discovered. It is over 1,700 times the size of the Sun, and you could fit more than 5 billion Suns inside it. Despite its enormous size, UY Scuti is only about ten times as massive as the Sun and shines 100,000 times brighter. As it nears the end of its life, UY Scuti has expanded to its massive size. Eventually, it will explode in a supernova and likely leave behind either a neutron star or a black hole.
Conclusion
The Milky Way is home to some truly massive stars, each showcasing the diversity and grandeur of our galaxy. From the immense UY Scuti, which is over 1,700 times the size of the Sun, to the powerful Betelgeuse and Antares, these giants offer a glimpse into the vastness of the cosmos. Stars like VY Canis Majoris and Mu Cephei highlight the incredible range of stellar sizes and luminosities, proving that even within our galaxy, there are celestial objects of staggering magnitude. As our understanding of these stars deepens, they continue to captivate and inspire, revealing the awe-inspiring scale of the universe.
