List of largest stars - wikipedia List of largest stars Not to be confused with List of most massive stars. Relative sizes of the planets in the Solar System and some of the largest stars : Mercury < Mars < Venus < Earth Earth < Neptune < Uranus < Saturn < Jupiter Jupiter < Proxima Centauri < Sun < Sirius Sirius < Pollux < Arcturus < Aldebaran Aldebaran < Rigel < Antares < Betelgeuse Betelgeuse < NML Cygni < VV Cephei A < VY Canis Majoris < UY Scuti Below is an ordered list of the largest stars currently known by radius expressed in units compared to the radius of the Sun ( 695,700 km ; 432,288 mi ). The exact order of this list remains very incomplete, as there currently remains great uncertainties especially when deriving various important parameters used in calculations, such as stellar luminosity and effective temperature. Often stellar radii can only be expressed as an average or within a large range of values. Values for stellar radii do vary significantly in sources and throughout the literature, mostly as the boundary of the very tenuous atmosphere ( opacity ) greatly differs depending on the wavelength of light in which the star is observed. Several stars can have their radii directly obtained by stellar interferometry. Other methods can use lunar occultations or from eclipsing binaries, which can be used to test other indirect methods of determining true stellar size. Only a few useful supergiant stars can experience occultations by the Moon, including Antares and Aldebaran Examples of eclipsing binaries include Epsilon Aurigae and the red - giant binary system KIC 9246715 in the constellation of Cygnus. Contents 1 Caveats 2 Extragalactic large stars 3 List 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Caveats UY Scuti as seen in visible light. Complex issues exist in determining the true radii of the largest stars, which in many cases do display significant errors. The following lists are generally based on various considerations or assumptions that include : Largest stars are usually expressed in units of the solar radius ( R ), where 1.00 R equals 695,700 kilometres. Stellar radii or diameters are usually only approximated using Stefan -- Boltzmann law for the deduced stellar luminosity and effective surface temperature ; Stellar distances, and their errors, for most, remain uncertain or poorly determined ; Many supergiant stars have extended atmospheres and many are embedded within opaque dust shells, making their true effective temperatures highly uncertain ; Many extended supergiant atmospheres also significantly change in size over time, regularly or irregularly pulsating over several months or years as variable stars. This makes adopted luminosities poorly known and may significantly change the quoted radii ; Other direct methods for determining stellar radii, rely on lunar occultations or from eclipses in binary systems. This is only possible for a very small number of stars ; Based on various theoretical evolutionary models, few stars will exceed 1,500 -- 2,000 times the Sun ( roughly 3,715 K and M = − 9 ). Such limits maybe also depend on the stellar metallicity. Extragalactic large stars Included within this list are some examples of more distant extragalactic stars, which may have slightly different properties and natures than the currently largest known stars in the Milky Way Some red supergiants in the Magellanic Clouds are suspected to have slightly different limiting temperatures and luminosities. Such stars may exceed accepted limits by undergoing large eruptions or change their spectral types over just a few months. Humphreys et al., for example, calculates the maximum size for a Magellanic cloud star as ~ 2,600 R. A survey of the Magellanic Clouds have catalogued many red supergiants, where more than 50 of them exceed 700 R ( 490,000,000 km ; 3.3 AU ; 300,000,000 mi ). Largest of these is about 1,200 -- 1,300 R. Another survey of the star cluster Westerlund 1 revealed that there are several red supergiants or red hypergiants that probably exceed 2,000 R. Westerlund 1 - 26 is in this list. List This list is incomplete ; you can help by expanding it. List of the largest stars Star name Solar radii ( Sun = 1 ) Notes Orbit of Saturn 1,940 -- 2,169 Reported for reference UY Scuti 1,708 ± 192 Margin of error in size determination : ± 192 solar radii. At the smallest, it would have a size similar to VX Sagittarii ( see below ) WOH G64 1,540 ± 77 This would be the largest star in the LMC, but is unusual in position and motion and might still be a foreground halo giant. Ohnaka ( 2009 ) calculates 1,730 R. RW Cephei 1,535 RW Cep is variable both in brightness ( by at least a factor of 3 ) and spectral type ( observed from G8 to M ), thus probably also in diameter. Because the spectral type and temperature at maximum luminosity are not known, the quoted sizes are just estimates. Westerlund 1 - 26 1,530 - 1,580 ( -- 2,000 ) Very uncertain parameters for an unusual star with strong radio emission. The spectrum is variable but apparently the luminosity is not. VX Sagittarii 1,520 VX Sgr is a pulsating variable with a large visual range from 1,350 R to 1,940 R and varies significantly in size. HR 5171 A 1,490 ± 540 HR 5171 A is a highly distorted star in a close binary system, losing mass to the secondary. Traditionally, it is considered a particularly large yellow hypergiant, although the latest research suggests it is a red supergiant. The variation in temperature is not clear because the size also varies from 1,315 ± 260 R to 1,575 ± 400 R. KY Cygni 1,420 -- 2,850 The upper estimate is due to an unusual K band measurement and thought to be an artifact of a reddening correction error, and is thought to be against stellar evolutionary theory. The lower estimate is consistent with other stars in the same survey and with theoretical models. VY Canis Majoris 1,420 ± 120 Once thought to be a star so large that it contradicted stellar evolutionary theory with a radius of 1,800 R to 2,200 R, improved measurements have brought it down to size. AH Scorpii 1,411 ± 124 AH Sco is variable by nearly 3 magnitudes in the visual range, and an estimated 20 % in total luminosity. The variation in diameter is not clear because the temperature also varies. VV Cephei A 1,400 or 1,050 -- 1,800 VV Cep A is a highly distorted star in a close binary system, losing mass to the secondary for at least part of its orbit. Older estimates have given much larger sizes. IRC + 10420 ( V1302 Aquilae ) 1,342 SMC 018136 1,310 This would be the largest star in the SMC. Mu Cephei ( Herschel 's `` Garnet Star '' ) 1,260 Other recent estimates range from 650 R to 1,420 R BI Cygni 1,240 S Persei 1,212 ± 124 In the Perseus Double Cluster. Other recent estimates range from 780 R to 1,230 R. RAFGL 2139 1,200 RAFGL 2139 is a rare red supergiant companion to WR 114 that has a bow shock. PZ Cassiopeiae 1,190 - 1,940 or 1,260 - 1,340 The largest estimate is due to an unusual K band measurement and thought to be an artifact of a reddening correction error. The lowest estimate is consistent with other stars in the same survey and with theoretical models, and the intermediate ones have been obtained refining the distance to this star, and thus its parameters. NML Cygni 1,183 -- 2,770 An accurate measure of its distance and its luminosity combined with assumptions of its temperature give 1,640 R for 3,250 K or 2,770 R for 2,500 K. EV Carinae 1,168 - 2,880 EV Car is an unstable star plagued by dust extinction. The value on the left is subject to inaccuracy and thus not yet well defined. BC Cygni 1,140 - 1,230 Other recent estimates range from 856 R to 1,553 R. RT Carinae 1,090 V396 Centauri 1,070 Orbit of Jupiter 1,064 -- 1,173 Reported for reference HV 11423 1,060 -- 1,220 HV 11423 is variable in spectral type ( observed from K0 to M5 ), thus probably also in diameter. In October 1978, it was a star of M0I type. CK Carinae 1,060 U Lacertae 1,025 KW Sagittarii 1,009 - 1,460 Margin of possible error : ± 142 solar radii ( Torres 2013 ). NR Vulpeculae 980 GCIRS 7 960 ± 92 S Cassiopeiae 930 IX Carinae 920 HV 2112 918 Most likely candidate for a Thorne - Zytkow Object. NSV 25875 891 Betelgeuse ( Alpha Orionis ) 887 -- 955 Margin of possible error : ± 203 solar radii ( Dolan 2016 ) or ± 217 solar radii ( Neilson 2011 ). At the largest, it would have a size similar to Jupiter 's orbit V437 Scuti 874 V602 Carinae 860 - 1,050 Margin of possible error : ± 165 solar radii ( Torres 2015 ). V669 Cassiopeiae 859 V1185 Scorpii 830 Outer limits of the asteroid belt 816 Reported for reference BO Carinae 790 SU Persei 780 In the Perseus Double Cluster RS Persei 770 - 1,000 In the Perseus Double Cluster. Margin of possible error : ± 30 solar radii ( Baron 2014 ). AV Persei 770 In the Perseus Double Cluster V355 Cepheus 300 - 770 V915 Scorpii 760 S Cephei 760 HD 303250 750 V382 Carinae 747 The brightest yellow hypergiant in the night sky, one of the rarest types of star. Achmad ( 1992 ) calculates 600 R to 1,100 R or 700 ± 250 R. RU Virginis 742 V648 Cassiopeiae 710 XX Persei 710 In the Perseus Double Cluster TV Geminorum 620 - 710 ( -- 770 ) HD 179821 704 This star is a yellow hypergiant although most authors consider it as a supergiant, a protoplanetary nebula or a post-AGB star V528 Carinae 700 The following well - known stars are listed for the purpose of comparison. V354 Cephei 690 - 1,520 Antares A ( Alpha Scorpii A ) 680 Other recent estimates range from 653 R to 1,246 R. CE Tauri 608 Can be occulted by the Moon, allowing accurate determination of its apparent diameter. R Leporis ( Hind 's `` Crimson Star '' ) 400 -- 535 Margin of possible error : ± 90 solar radii. Rho Cassiopeiae 400 - 500 Yellow hypergiant, one of the rarest types of a star. Inner limits of the asteroid belt 412 Reported for reference Mira A ( Omicron Ceti ) 332 -- 402 Prototype Mira variable. De beck ( 2005 ) calculates 541 R. V509 Cassiopeiae 400 -- 900 Yellow hypergiant, one of the rarest types of a star. CW Leonis 390 -- 500 CW Leonis has been one of the mistaken identities as the claimed planet `` Nibiru '' or `` Planet X '', due to its brightness as it approaches 1st magnitude. Other recent estimates range from 700 R to 826 R. V838 Monocerotis 380 ( in 2009 ) A short time after the outburst V838 Mon was measured at 1,570 ± 400 R. However the distance to this `` L supergiant '', and hence its size, have since been reduced and it proved to be a transient object that shrunk about four-fold over a few years. S Doradus 100 - 380 Prototype S Doradus variable R Doradus 370 Star with the second largest apparent size after the Sun. The Pistol Star 340 Blue hypergiant, among the most massive and luminous stars known. La Superba ( Y Canum Venaticorum ) 307 - 390 Currently one of the coolest and reddest stars. Orbit of Mars 297 -- 358 Reported for reference Alpha Herculis ( Ras Algethi ) 284 ± 60 Moravveji et al also gives a range from 264 R to 303 R. At an estimated distance of 110 parsecs from the Sun, this corresponds to a radius of 400 ± 61 R. Sun 's red giant phase 256 349 -- 448 The core hydrogen would be exhausted in 5.4 billion years. In 7.647 billion years, The Sun would reach the tip of the red - giant branch of the Hertzsprung -- Russell diagram. ( see below ) Reported for reference Eta Carinae A ( Tseen She ) 250 Previously thought to be the most massive single star, but in 2005 it was realized to be a binary system. Its size is poorly defined. one study calculated 60 R, but at optical depth 0.67, the size would be 800 R. At the peak of the Great Eruption, it would have a size similar to VV Cephei A. Other recent estimates range from 85 R to 195 R. Orbit of Earth 211 -- 219 Reported for reference Deneb ( Alpha Cygni ) 203 LBV 1806 - 20 200 Formerly a candidate for the most luminous star in the Milky Way. Orbit of Venus 154 -- 157 Reported for reference Epsilon Aurigae A ( Almaaz ) 143 - 358 ε Aur was incorrectly hailed as the largest star with a radius 2,000 R or 3,000 R, even though it later turned out not to be an infrared light star but rather a dusk torus surrounding the system. Peony Nebula Star 100 Candidate for most luminous star in the Milky Way. Rigel A ( Beta Orionis A ) 78.9 Canopus ( Alpha Carinae ) 71 Second brightest star in the night sky. Orbit of Mercury 66 -- 100 Reported for reference Aldebaran ( Alpha Tauri ) 44.2 Polaris ( Alpha Ursae Minoris ) 37.5 The current northern pole star. R136a1 35.4 Also on record as the most massive and luminous star known. Arcturus ( Alpha Boötis ) 25.4 Brightest star in the northern hemisphere. HDE 226868 20 - 22 The supergiant companion of black hole Cygnus X-1. The black hole is 500,000 times smaller than the star. VV Cephei B 13 - 25 The B - type main sequence companion of VV Cephei A. Sun 's helium burning phase 10 After the red - giant branch the Sun has approximately 120 million years of active life left. Reported for reference Sun The largest object in the Solar System. Reported for reference See also Star portal Constellation Lists of stars List of most massive stars List of most luminous stars List of hottest stars List of coolest stars List of most massive black holes List of largest nebulae List of largest galaxies List of largest cosmic structures List of largest exoplanets List of star extremes References Jump up ^ Hełminiak, K.G. ; Ukita, N. ; Kambe, E. ; Konacki, M. ( 2015 ). `` Absolute Stellar Parameters of KIC 09246715 : A Double - giant Eclipsing System with a Solar - like Oscillator ''. The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 813 ( 2 ) : L25. arXiv : 1509.03340. Bibcode : 2015ApJ... 813L... 25H. doi : 10.1088 / 2041 - 8205 / 813 / 2 / L25. ^ Jump up to : Table 4 in Levesque, Emily M. ; Massey, Philip ; Olsen, K.A.G. ; Plez, Bertrand ; Josselin, Eric ; Maeder, Andre ; Meynet, Georges ( 2005 ). `` The Effective Temperature Scale of Galactic Red Supergiants : Cool, but Not as Cool as We Thought ''. 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Jump up ^ Hack, M. ; Engin, S. ; Yilmaz, N. ; Sedmak, G. ; Rusconi, L. ; Boehm, C. ( 1992 ). `` Spectroscopic study of the atmospheric eclipsing binary VV Cephei ''. Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series ( ISSN0365 - 0138 ). 95 : 589. Bibcode : 1992A&AS... 95... 589H. External links Giant Stars An interactive website comparing the Earth and the Sun to some of the largest known stars BBC News Three largest stars identified Universe Today What is the Biggest Star in the Universe ? The 10 largest stars by radius The Ten largest stars in solar radius The Ten largest stars 1st. UY Scuti 1,708 ± 192 2nd. WOH G64 1,540 ± 77 ( 1,730 ) 3rd. RW Cephei 1,535 4th. Westerlund 1 - 26 1,530 -- 1,580 ( -- 2,544 ) 5th. VX Sagittarii 1,520 ( 1,350 -- 1,940 ) 6th. HR 5171 1,490 ± 540 ( 1,315 -- 1,575 ) 8th / 7th. KY Cygni 1,420 -- 2,850 8th / 7th. VY Canis Majoris 1,420 9th. AH Scorpii 1,411 ± 124 10th. VV Cephei A 1,400 ( 1,050 -- 1,800 ) For comparison IRC + 10420 ( 357 -- ) 1,342 Mu Cephei 1,260 ( 650 -- 1,420 ) NML Cygni 1,183 -- 2,770 Betelgeuse ( 887 ± 203 − ) 1,180 KW Sagittarii 1,009 ± 142 V382 Carinae 747 CW Leonis 700 -- 826 TV Geminorum 620 - 710 V354 Cephei 690 -- 1,520 Antares 680 -- 883 ( 653 -- 1,246 ) Star Formation Accretion Molecular cloud Bok globule Young stellar object Protostar Pre-main - sequence star Herbig Ae / Be Orion T Tauri FU Orionis Herbig -- Haro object Hayashi track Henyey track Evolution Main sequence Red giant branch Horizontal branch Red clump Asymptotic giant branch Protoplanetary nebula Planetary nebula PG1159 star Dredge - up Instability strip Luminous blue variable Blue straggler Stellar population Supernova Supernova impostor Hypernova Hertzsprung -- Russell diagram Color -- color diagram Luminosity class Subdwarf Dwarf Blue Red White Yellow Brown Subgiant Giant Blue Red Bright giant Supergiant Blue Red Yellow Hypergiant Yellow Spectral classification WR Be OB Subdwarf O Subdwarf B Late - type Chemically peculiar Am Ap / Bp Barium Carbon CH CN Extreme helium Lambda Boötis Lead HgMn Technetium Shell Remnants White dwarf Helium planet Neutron star Radio - quiet Pulsar Binary X-ray Magnetar Stellar black hole X-ray binary Burster Theoretical stars Black dwarf Exotic Quark Strange Preon Planck Electroweak star Dark - matter star Dark - energy star Black star Gravastar Frozen star Q star Quasi-star Thorne -- Żytkow object Iron star Blitzar Nucleosynthesis Deuterium burning Lithium burning Proton -- proton chain CNO cycle Helium flash Triple - alpha process Alpha process Carbon burning Neon burning Oxygen burning Silicon burning S - process R - process Fusor Nova Symbiotic Remnant Luminous red nova Structure Core Convection zone Microturbulence Oscillations Radiation zone Atmosphere Photosphere Starspot Chromosphere Corona Stellar wind Bubble Bipolar outflow Accretion disk Asteroseismology Helioseismology Eddington luminosity Kelvin -- Helmholtz mechanism Properties Designation Dynamics Effective temperature Kinematics Magnetic field Absolute magnitude Mass Metallicity Rotation UBV color Variable star Mira variable Star systems Binary Contact Common envelope Eclipsing Multiple Star cluster Open cluster Globular cluster Super star cluster Planetary system Earth 's Solar System Earth - centric observation of Pole star Circumpolar star Constellation Asterism Magnitude Apparent Extinction Photographic Radial velocity Proper motion Parallax Photometric - standard star Lists Star names Arabic Chinese Extremes Most massive Highest temperature Largest volume Smallest volume Brightest Historical Most luminous Nearest Nearest bright Stars with exoplanets Brown dwarfs White dwarfs Milky Way novae Notable supernovae Supernova candidates Supernova remnants Planetary nebulae Timeline of stellar astronomy Related articles Substellar object Brown dwarf Sub-brown dwarf Planet Galactic year Galaxy Supercluster Guest star Gravity Intergalactic star Infrared dark cloud Starfield Category : Stars Star portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_largest_stars&oldid=815585750 '' Categories : Hypergiants Supergiants Lists of stars Lists of superlatives in astronomy Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter Wikipedia semi-protected pages All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Incomplete lists from January 2016 Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu Башҡортса Български Boarisch Brezhoneg Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Lëtzebuergesch Македонски मराठी Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Suomi Татарча / tatarça ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 15 December 2017, at 19 : 14. 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Question: which is bigger vy canis majoris vs uy scuti
Answer: UY Scuti