Key Information
UY Scuti
| Type | Red hypergiant or supergiant star |
| Diameter | 1,476,695,808 miles |
| Distance | About 9,500 light years |
| Mass | 7 to 10 solar masses |
| Temperature | 5,600 °F |
| Star Type | M2-M4Ia-Iab |
| Date of Discovery | 1860 |
| Other Names | BD-12°5055 |
Learning Point
- UY Scuti is one of the largest stars in our galaxy. It’s immense size makes it a very bright star, and it may yet become brighter as it may become a more powerful form of star as it uses up more of its hydrogen supplies.
Project
- Draw a picture of UY Scuti from a planet in orbit around it.
- Overview
- Comparison
Location
| Located in | Scutum, Milky Way |
Fun Facts
- UY Scuti might have a diameter 1,708 times bigger than our Sun, meaning it would swallow up Jupiter if it was positioned where our Sun is.
- It is a variable star, which means it is constantly changing its brightness over about 740 days.
- If we could travel around UY Scuti at the speed of light, it would take about seven hours to do so.
- Its size is difficult to be sure of because of the challenges of trying to calculate how far it is from us.
Past Lessons
| 136 | August 29, 2023 | (North America) |