List of largest stars
List
Table:
List of the largest stars

Star name

Solar radii
(Sun = 1)

Method[a]

Notes

Orbit of Saturn
1,940–2,169

Reported for reference

UY Scuti
1,708±192[3]
AD
This value was based on an angular diameter and distance of 2.9 kpc. Gaia DR2 suggests a closer distance and consequently smaller radius. Van Loon et al. calculates 825 R☉.[4]

WOH G64
1,540–2,575[5]
L/Teff
This would be the largest star in the LMC, but is unusual in position and motion and might still be a foreground halo giant.

Westerlund 1-26
1,530–1,580[6] (–2,550) [7]
L/Teff
Very uncertain parameters for an unusual star with strong radio emission. The spectrum is variable but apparently the luminosity is not.

RSGC1-F02
1,498[8]
L/Teff

HD 143183
1,469 - 1,478[9]
L/Teff

RSGC1-F01
1,435[8]
L/Teff

VY Canis Majoris
1,420[10] - 2,000[11]
AD
VY CMa has been described as the largest known star in the Milky Way although other galactic red supergiants possibly larger but they have less accurate radius estimates.[12] Older estimates originally estimated the radius to be 3,000 R☉.[13] Margin of error in size determination: ±120 R☉.[10]

KY Cygni
1,420–2,850 [1]
L/Teff
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.

AH Scorpii
1,411±124[3]
AD
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[14]
AD
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. Data from the most recent eclipse has cast additional doubt on the accepted model of the system. Other estimates ranges of 1,050 R☉[15] to 1,900 R☉[1]

IRAS 04509-6922
1,360[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HV 888
1,353[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HR 5171 A
1,315±260[17]
AD
HR 5171 A is a highly distorted star in a close binary system, losing mass to the secondary. It is also variable in temperature, thus probably also in diameter. Traditionally, it is considered as the largest known yellow hypergiant, although the latest research suggests it is a red supergiant with a radius of 1,492±540 R☉ or 1,575±400 R☉.[18][19]

SMC 18136
1,310[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Small Magellanic Cloud.

IRAS 05280-6910
1,260[16] - 1,738[20]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Mu Cephei (Herschel's "Garnet Star")
1,260[21] - 1,650[22]
L/Teff & AD
Prototype of the obsolete class of the Mu Cephei variables and also one of reddest stars in the night sky in terms of the B-V color index.[23] Other estimates have given only 650 R☉ based on much closer distances.[24]

SP77 46-44 (WOH S341)
1,258[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 136042
1,240[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Westerlund 1-237
1,233[7]
L/Teff

SMC 5092
1,220[2]
L/Teff

S Persei
1,212±124[25]
AD & L/Teff
A red hypergiant localed in the Perseus Double Cluster. Levsque et al. 2005 calculated radii of 780 R☉ and 1,230 R☉ based on K-band measurements.[1] Older estimates gave up to 2,853 R☉ based on higher luminosities.[26]

LMC 175464
1,200[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

LMC 135720
1,200[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRC -10414
1,200[27]
L/Teff
IRC -10414 is a rare red supergiant companion to WR 114 that has a bow shock.

PZ Cassiopeiae
1,190–1,940[1]
L/Teff
The upper estimate is due to an unusual K-band measurement and thought to be an artefact of a reddening correction error. The lower 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.[28]

SMC 69886
1,190[2]
L/Teff

NML Cygni
1,183[29]
L/Teff
NML Cyg is calculated to be between 1,640 R☉ and 2,770 R☉ based on a more accurate measure of its distance combined with assumptions of its temperature.[30]

RSGC1-F05
1,177[8]
L/Teff

EV Carinae
1,168[4]
L/Teff
Older estimates based on much larger distances have given higher luminosities, and consequently larger radii.[31][26]

RSGC1-F03
1,168[8]
L/Teff

LMC 119219
1,150[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

RSGC1-F08
1,146[8]
L/Teff

BC Cygni
1,140[1]-1,230[21]
L/Teff
BC Cyg is calculated to vary in size from 856 R☉ to 1,553 R☉.[32]

MY Cephei
1,134[33]
L/Teff
Not to be confused with Mu Cephei (see above). Older estimates have given up to 2,440 R☉ based on much cooler temperatures.[34]

J004035.08+404522.3
1,130 - 1,230[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy

SMC 10889
1,130[2]
L/Teff

VX Sagittarii
1,120 - 1,550[36]
L/Teff
VX Sgr is a pulsating variable with a large visual range and is calculated to vary in size from 1,350 R☉ to 1,940 R☉.[37]

LMC 141430
1,110[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 04516-6902
1,100[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 175746
1,100[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

RSGC1-F13
1,098[8]
L/Teff

RT Carinae
1,090[1]
L/Teff

RSGC1-F04
1,082[8]
L/Teff

LMC 174714
1,080[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 68125
1,080[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 49478
1,080[2]
L/Teff

SMC 20133
1,080[2]
L/Teff

V396 Centauri
1,070[1]
L/Teff

SMC 8930
1,070[2]
L/Teff

Orbit of Jupiter
1,064–1,173

Reported for reference

HV 11423
1,060–1,220[38]
L/Teff
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[1]
L/Teff

SMC 25879
1,060[2]
L/Teff

LMC 142202
1,050[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 146126
1,050[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 67982
1,040[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

U Lacertae
1,022[31][39]
L/Teff

RSGC1-F11
1,015[8]
L/Teff

LMC 143877
1,010[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

KW Sagittarii
1,009[3]-1,460[1]
AD & L/Teff
Margin of possible error: ±142 R☉.[3]

RSGC1-F12
1,005[7]
L/Teff

Progenitor of SN 2017eaw
1,000–2,000[40]
L/Teff
Located in NGC 6946

SMC 46497
990[2]
L/Teff

LMC 140296
990[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

RSGC1-F09
986[8]
L/Teff

RW Cephei
981 - 1,758[41][42]
L/Teff
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.

NR Vulpeculae
980[1]
L/Teff

SMC 12322
980[2]
L/Teff

LMC 177997
980[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 59803
970[2]
L/Teff

Westerlund 1-20
965[7]
L/Teff

GCIRS 7
960[43]–1,000[44]
AD
Located at the galactic center. Margin of possible error: ±92 R☉[43] or ±150 R☉.[44]

HV 2561
957[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 50840
950[2]
L/Teff

J004424.94+412322.3
945 - 1,300[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy.

HV 916
944[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

RSGC1-F10
931[8]
L/Teff

S Cassiopeiae
930[45][46]

IX Carinae
920[1]
L/Teff

HV 2112
916[47]
L/Teff
Most likely candidate for a Thorne-Zytkow Object.

RSGC1-F07
910[8]
L/Teff

LMC 54365
900[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 04498-6842
900[48]–1,660[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HV 996
894[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NSV 25875
891[29]
L/Teff

LMC 109106
890[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HV 12501
890[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis)
887±203[49]
AD
Star with the third largest apparent size after R Doradus and the Sun. Another estimate give 955±217 R☉[50]

RSGC1-F06
885[8]
L/Teff

LMC 116895
880[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 30616
880[2]
L/Teff

LMC 64048
880[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 05558-7000
880[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

V437 Scuti
874[29]
L/Teff

IRAS 04407-7000
870[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 05329-6708
870[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HV 986
867[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

V602 Carinae
860[1]–1,050[51]
L/Teff & AD
Margin of possible error: ±165 R☉.[51]

J004047.82+410936.4
860 - 1,010[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy

V669 Cassiopeiae
859[29]
L/Teff

HV 2360
857[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

HV 5870
856[4]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

BI Cygni
850[21]-1,240[1]
L/Teff

SMC 55681
850[2]
L/Teff

SMC 15510
850[2]
L/Teff

LMC 61753
830[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 62090
830[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 11709
830[2]
L/Teff

V1185 Scorpii
830[29]
L/Teff

LMC 142199
810[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 05294-7104
810[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 05402-6956
800[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 134383
800[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

V441 Persei
799[7]
L/Teff

BU Persei
795[7]
L/Teff

IRAS 05298-6957
790[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

BO Carinae
790[1]
L/Teff

LMC 142907
790[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SU Persei
780[1]
L/Teff
In the Perseus Double Cluster

RS Persei
770[52]–1,000[1]
AD & L/Teff
In the Perseus Double Cluster. Margin of possible error: ±30 R☉.[52]

AV Persei
770[1]
L/Teff
In the Perseus Double Cluster

V355 Cephei
770[1]
L/Teff
Mauron et al. 2011 derive 37,000 L☉, which implies a size around 300 R☉.[31]

J004124.80+411634.7
760 - 1,240[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy and has a possible hot companion.

V915 Scorpii
760[53][54]
L/Teff

S Cephei
760[55]
AD

YZ Persei
758[7]
L/Teff

J004447.08+412801.7
755 - 825[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy

GP Cassiopeiae
751[7]
L/Teff

Outer limits of the asteroid belt
750–900

Reported for reference

SMC 11939
750[2]
L/Teff

HD 303250
750[1]
L/Teff

V382 Carinae
747[56]

Yellow hypergiant, one of the rarest types of a star. Other estimate ranges of 600 R☉ to 1,100 R☉.[57]

R Cygni
745[58][59]
L/Teff

RU Virginis
740[60]
L/Teff

LMC 137818
740[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 48122
740[2]
L/Teff

IRAS 04545-7000
730[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

IRAS 05003-6712
730[16]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

SMC 56732
730[2]
L/Teff

KK Persei
724[7]
L/Teff

V648 Cassiopeiae
710[1]
L/Teff

XX Persei
710[7]
L/Teff
Located in the Perseus Double Cluster and near the border with Andromeda.

TV Geminorum
620–710[61] (–770)[1]
L/Teff

HD 179821
704±259[62]

HD 179821 may be a yellow hypergiant or a much less luminous star.

J004255.95+404857.5
700 - 785[35]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy

J003950.98+405422.5
700[63]
L/Teff
Located in the Andromeda Galaxy

LMC 169754
700[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

LMC 65558
700[2]
L/Teff
Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud

V528 Carinae
700[1]
L/Teff

RSGC1-F14
700[8]
L/Teff

The following well-known stars are listed for the purpose of comparison.

V354 Cephei
689[31]-1,520[1]
L/Teff

Antares A (Alpha Scorpii A)
680[64] (varies by 19%)[65]
AD
Antares was originally calculated to be over 850 R☉,[66][67] but those estimates are likely to have been affected by asymmetry of the atmosphere of the star.[64]

HR 5171 Ab
650±150[19]
AD
The yellow giant or supergiant companion of HR 5171 A.

CE Tauri
587–593[68] (–608[69])
AD
Can be occulted by the Moon, allowing accurate determination of its apparent diameter.

Mira A (Omicron Ceti)
332–402[70]
AD
Prototype Mira variable. De beck et al. 2010 calculates 541 R☉.[29]

V509 Cassiopeiae (HR 8752)
400–900[71]
L/Teff
Yellow hypergiant, one of the rarest types of a star.

R Leporis (Hind's "Crimson Star")
400[72]–535[73]
AD & L/Teff
Margin of possible error: ±90 R☉.[72]

Rho Cassiopeiae
400–500[74]
L/Teff
Yellow hypergiant, one of the rarest types of a star.

Inner limits of the asteroid belt
380

Reported for reference

CW Leonis
390[75]–826[29]
L/Teff
Prototype of carbon stars. CW Leo was mistakenly identified as the claimed planet "Nibiru" or "Planet X".

V838 Monocerotis
380 (in 2009)[76]

A short time after the outburst V838 Mon was measured at 1,570 ± 400 R☉,[77] but its distance, 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. Like CW Leo, it has been erroneously portrayed as "Nibiru" or "Planet X" (see above).

R Doradus
370±50[78]
AD
Star with the second largest apparent size after the Sun.

Tail of Comet Hyakutake
360

Reported for reference

IRC +10420
357[79]
L/Teff
A yellow hypergiant that has increased its temperature into the LBV range. De beck et al. 2010 calculates 1,342 R☉ based on a much cooler temperature.[29]

The Pistol Star
340[80]
AD
Blue hypergiant, among the most massive and luminous stars known.

La Superba (Y Canum Venaticorum)
307[29]–390[81]
L/Teff
Referred to as La Superba by Angelo Secchi. Currently one of the coolest and reddest stars.

Orbit of Mars
297–358

Reported for reference

Alpha Herculis (Ras Algethi)
284±60[82]
L/Teff
The estimate ranges from 264 R☉ to 303 R☉[82]

Sun's red giant phase
256[83]

At this point, the Sun will engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly the Earth although it will move away from its orbit since the Sun will loss a third of its mass. During the helium burning phase, it will shrink to 10 R☉ but will later grow again and become an unstable AGB star, and then a white dwarf after making a planetary nebula.[84][85] Reported for reference

Eta Carinae A (Tseen She)
~240[86]

Previously thought to be the most massive single star, but in 2005 it was realized to be a binary system. During the Great Eruption, the size was much larger at around 1,400 R☉.[87] η Car is calculated to be between 60 R☉ and 881 R☉.[88]

Orbit of Earth
215 (211–219)

Reported for reference

Deneb (Alpha Cygni)
203±17[89]
AD
Prototype Alpha Cygni variable.

Solar System Habitable Zone
200–520[90] (uncertain)

Reported for reference

Orbit of Venus
154–157

Reported for reference

Epsilon Aurigae A (Almaaz)
143–358[91]
AD
ε Aur was incorrectly claimed in 1970 as the largest star with a size between 2,000 R☉ and 3,000 R☉,[92] even though it later turned out not to be an infrared light star but rather a dusk torus surrounding the system.

S Doradus
100–380[93]
AD
Prototype S Doradus variable, even though P Cygni was the first discovered.

Peony Star
92[94]
AD
Candidate for most luminous star in the Milky Way.

Rigel A (Beta Orionis A)
78.9±7.4[95]
AD
Other estimate ranges of 74.1+6.1
−7.3 R☉[96] to 109±12 R☉[97]

Canopus (Alpha Carinae)
71±4[98]
AD
Second brightest star in the night sky.

Orbit of Mercury
66–100

Reported for reference

LBV 1806-20
46–145[99]
L/Teff
Formerly a candidate for the most luminous star in the Milky Way with 40 million L☉,[100] but the luminosity has been revised later only 2 million L☉.[101][102]

Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri)
44.13±0.84[103]
AD

Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris)
37.5[104]
AD
The current northern pole star.

R136a1
28.8[105]–35.4[106]
AD
Also on record as the most massive and luminous star known (315 M☉ and 8.71 million L☉).

Arcturus (Alpha Boötis)
25.4±0.2[107]
AD
Brightest star in the northern hemisphere.

HDE 226868
20–22[108]

The supergiant companion of black hole Cygnus X-1. The black hole is around 500,000 times smaller than the star.

VV Cephei B
13[109]–25[110]

The B-type main sequence companion of VV Cephei A.

Sun
1

The largest object in the Solar System.
Reported for reference

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