Star
R136a1
Most massive and brightest star known
The brightest member of the R136 cluster at the heart of the Tarantula Nebula: about 200 solar masses, 4.7 million solar luminosities, a surface temperature of 46,000 K. A hydrogen-burning Wolf-Rayet star (WN5h); younger than 1 million years and losing thousands of Earth masses a year to its winds.
| Type | Star |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Dorado |
| Host galaxy | Large Magellanic Cloud |
| Mass | ~196 M☉ (170–230) |
| Luminosity | 4,7 × 10⁶ L☉ |
| Temperature | 46 000 K |
| Radius | ~39 R☉ |
| Spectrum | WN5h |
| Age | < 1 million years |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 5h 38m 42.4s |
| Declination (J2000) | −69° 06′ 03″ |
In the sky
Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 21° N. South of latitude 21° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.