What is the largest known star which is 1700 times larger than the Sun?

Our cosmos contains billions and trillions of stars. To put that into perspective, the universe has around 200 sextillion stars.

This vast amount include stars of different shapes and sizes. This includes "EBLM J0555-57Ab," the tiniest star ever discovered, which is approximately the size of Saturn. But what about the most massive star in the universe?

This hypergiant star will require more than just a telescope to be seen. Here's all you need to know about the universe's largest star and how it compares to our Sun.

Is our Sun the largest star in the sky? 

Well, it's the center in our solar system, but when we talk about the whole universe, it's not the biggest star. The Sun measures around 696,000 kilometers (that's about 432,450 miles) across on average.

Now, let's check out UY Scuti – it's way bigger! The Sun's size is like a tiny speck compared to UY Scuti, whose radius is a whopping 1,700 times larger. Just to give you an idea, you could fit about 5 billion Suns inside UY Scuti. That's one colossal star!

Is the sun the biggest star in the universe?

UY Scuti is the biggest known star in the cosmos. It has a radius of approximately 1.188 billion kilometers. If UY Scuti were the core of our solar system, its photosphere, or outer shell, would extend barely beyond Jupiter's orbit.

Image Source: Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, and M. McClure (Leiden)

It is a red hypergiant, which means it has a massive mass and brightness. However, due of their brief lifespans, these stars are more difficult to find. Hypergiants, unlike other stars that live for billions of years, only live for a few million years.

UY Scuti was discovered in 1860 by German astronomers under the designation "BD-12 5055." This star is located toward the center of the Milky Way, around 9,500 lightyears from Earth. It belongs to the constellation Scutum.

Conclusion

As we marvel at the cosmic wonders scattered across the vastness of our universe, UY Scuti emerges as a captivating celestial giant, challenging our notions of scale and grandeur. This red supergiant, with a radius 1700 times that of our Sun, stands as evidence of the astonishing diversity within the cosmic realm. As we share the awe-inspiring story of UY Scuti with our friends, family, and the broader online community, 

Let us collectively appreciate the vastness and complexity of the universe. Through the lens of discovery, the universe reveals its secrets, inviting us to look skyward and contemplate the limitless wonders that excite our imaginations and deepen our understanding of the universe. Share this cosmic revelation on social media and inspire others to join you on the journey to the center of the galaxy.