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/Vy Canis Majoris
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Spectral TypeM3-M4 Ia
Temperature3,490 K
M3-M4 Ia TypeConstellation: Canis Major

VY Canis Majoris

VY CMa

VY Canis Majoris is a luminous red hypergiant with a vast dusty envelope.

Distance
3,900 ly
Light Years from Earth
Age
8 million years
Estimated
Mass
17 M☉
Relative to Sun
Radius
1,420 R☉
Relative to Sun
Surface Temp
3,490 K
Effective Temp
Luminosity
270,000 L☉
Total Energy Output

Astrophysical Data

Apparent Magnitude7.95
Absolute Magnitude-7.00
Spectral ClassificationM3-M4 Ia

Size Comparison

Sun (1 R☉)
VY Canis Majoris (1,420 R☉)
Scale adjusted for visibility