Key Information
Plaskett’s Star
| Type | Star System (binary) |
| Star Types | O8I (A), O7.5III (B) – Blue Supergiants |
| Diameter | 12,276,979 miles (A), 9,337,420 miles (B) |
| Mass | 54 M☉ (A), 56 M☉ (B) |
| Temperature | 59,840 °F (A), 58,940 °F (B) |
| Distance | 5,245 light years |
| Date of Discovery | Before 1922 |
| Other Names | V640 Monocerotis, HR 2422, HIP 31646, HD 47129 |
Learning Point
- Plaskett’s Star is a massive pair of stars orbiting each other. These stars are so huge and bright that they’re among the most massive stars known! They’re located far away, but even from that distance, they shine brightly. Studying Plaskett’s Star helps scientists understand how massive stars live, die, and even how they might explode as supernovas.
Project
- Draw a picture of the two stars that make up Plaskett’s Star.
- Overview
Location
| Located in | Monoceros constellation, within our Milky Way |
Fun Facts
- Plaskett’s Star isn’t just one star, but two massive stars orbiting each other!
- These stars are incredibly huge, much bigger than our Sun.
- This amazing star system was discovered by a Canadian astronomer named John Stanley Plaskett.
- Even though it’s far away, Plaskett’s Star is very bright because it’s so massive.
Past Lessons
| 212 | February 4, 2025 | (North America) |