G0.238-0.071
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 17h 46m 27.60s[1] |
| Declination | −28° 46′ 11.8″[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | Wolf–Rayet[2] |
| Spectral type | WN11h[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 26,000 ly (7,972 pc) |
| Absolute bolometric magnitude (Mbol) | –12.01 |
| Details[2] | |
| Radius | 39 - 48[a] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 5,012,000 L☉ |
| Temperature | 39,500 - 44,000 K |
| Other designations | |
| [DWC2011] 56, [MCD2010] 18[4] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
G0.238-0.071, also known as [DWC2011] 56 or [MCD2010] 18,[4] is a Wolf-Rayet Star [3] in the constellation of Sagittarius. It is located near the Galactic Center,[1] around 25,000 light years from Earth.
G0.238-0.071 is currently the most luminous star known in the Milky Way, having around 5 million times the luminosity of the Sun.[2] This also makes it among the most luminous stars ever discovered. It has a spectral type of WN11h[3] with an effective temperature between 39,500 and 44,000 K[2] which would give a radius between 39 and 48 times that of the Sun.[a] Its mass is unknown but WNh stars with similar properties to G0.238-0.071 are massive, usually well over 100 times the mass of the Sun.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b Applying the Stefan-Boltzmann Law with a nominal solar effective temperature of 5,772 K:
References
- ^ a b c Dong, H.; Wang, Q. D.; Cotera, A.; Stolovy, S.; Morris, M. R.; Mauerhan, J.; Mills, E. A.; Schneider, G.; Calzetti, D.; Lang, C. (2011). "Hubble Space Telescope Paschen α survey of the Galactic Centre: Data reduction and products". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 417 (1): 114. arXiv:1105.1703. Bibcode:2011MNRAS.417..114D. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19013.x.
- ^ a b c d Mauerhan, J. C.; Cotera, A.; Dong, H.; Morris, M. R.; Wang, Q. D.; Stolovy, S. R.; Lang, C. (2010). "Isolated Wolf-Rayet Stars and O Supergiants in the Galactic Center Region Identified Via Paschen-α Excess". The Astrophysical Journal. 725 (1): 188. arXiv:1009.2769. Bibcode:2010ApJ...725..188M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/725/1/188.
- ^ a b c Clark, J. S.; Patrick, L. R.; Najarro, F.; Evans, C. J.; Lohr, M. (2021). "Constraining the population of isolated massive stars within the Central Molecular Zone⋆". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 649. Bibcode:2021A&A...649A..43C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039205.
- ^ a b "[MCD2010] G0.238-0.071". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ^ Dong, H.; Wang, Q. D.; Morris, M. R. (2012). "A multiwavelength study of evolved massive stars in the Galactic Centre". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 425 (2): 884. arXiv:1204.6298. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.425..884D. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21200.x.