User:FT2/scc images

Formation of a type Ia supernova

Supernova remnant N 63A lies within a clumpy region of gas and dust in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The nebula around Wolf-Rayet star WR124, which is located at a distance of about 21,000 light years.

from Supernova

Artist's conception of a cataclysmic variable system

from Binary star

Radio image showing the size of red supergiant Betelgeuse's photosphere (circle) and the effect of convective forces on the star's asymmetric atmosphere as it expands beyond the orbit of Saturn.

from Betelgeuse

Comparison between the red supergiant Antares (NN solar masses) and the Sun, shown as the tiny dot toward the upper right. The black circle is the size of the orbit of Mars. Orange giant Arcturus (NN solar masses) is also included in the picture for size comparison.

Size comparison between the Sun and VY Canis Majoris, an unstable hypergiant star of around NN solar masses

own text

Right to left: VY Canis Majoris compared to Betelgeuse, Rho Cassiopeiae, the Pistol Star and the Sun (not visible in this thumbnail). The orbits of Jupiter and Neptune are also shown.

from VY Canis Majoris

R136a1, the most massive star known, is a blue hypergiant Wolf-Rayet star of around 265 solar masses. Left to right size comparison: a red dwarf, the Sun, a blue dwarf, and R136a1. R136a1 is not the largest known star in terms of volume; this distinction belongs to VY Canis Majoris.

from R136a1, text modified

Composited photograph of Orion's Belt. The leftmost star, known as Zeta Orionis (ζ Ori, or Alnitak), is a triple star whose primary is a massive blue supergiant of around 28 solar masses. (credit: Palomar Observatory/NASA)