Andromeda321 said:80 solar masses compared to the previously known 60 solar masses... wow. Just wondering though, how can such a large star possibly form without undergoing fusion at an earlier stage?
The discovery of the biggest stars yet seen is significant because it helps us better understand the formation and evolution of stars. It also gives us insight into the extreme ends of the size spectrum for stars, which can help us refine our understanding of stellar physics.
Astronomers use a variety of techniques to determine the size of a star, including measuring its brightness, temperature, and distance from Earth. They can also use spectroscopy to study the composition and motion of a star's outer layers, which can give clues about its size.
The biggest star that has been observed so far is UY Scuti, which has a radius of around 1,700 times that of the Sun. However, there may be even larger stars that have yet to be discovered.
These biggest stars are significantly larger and more massive than our Sun. For example, UY Scuti has a mass of around 30 times that of the Sun. These stars also have much shorter lifespans due to their higher mass and energy output.
Studying the biggest stars can help us understand the upper limits of stellar physics and how they form and evolve. It can also give us insight into the effects of extreme temperatures, luminosities, and gravitational forces on the behavior of matter and energy in the universe.