description WR 102 Overview
WR 102 is a rare oxygen-sequence Wolf-Rayet star, classified WO2, in the constellation Sagittarius. Its spectrum is dominated by highly ionized oxygen, carbon, and helium produced in an extremely hot, dense stellar wind, and model estimates place its surface temperature above 200,000 kelvins. It is an evolved, massive star that has lost its hydrogen-rich outer layers and is considered a likely precursor of a stripped-envelope supernova.
help WR 102 FAQ
How hot is WR 102 compared to our Sun?
WR 102 has a surface temperature exceeding 200,000 Kelvin, making it one of the hottest stars ever discovered in the Milky Way. This is drastically hotter than the Sun's surface temperature, which is approximately 5,800 Kelvin.
What type of star is WR 102?
WR 102 is a rare WO-type Wolf-Rayet star, which represents an evolved, oxygen-sequence phase of a massive star nearing the end of its life. These stars are characterized by incredibly strong stellar winds and heavy mass loss.
Is WR 102 about to go supernova?
Astronomers consider WR 102 to be in the final stages of stellar evolution before it explodes as a supernova. Because it is a highly evolved Wolf-Rayet star, its core collapse could occur within a few thousand to a few million years.
Where is WR 102 located in the galaxy?
WR 102 is located in the constellation Sagittarius, thousands of light-years away from Earth. Despite its incredible luminosity, it cannot be seen with the naked eye because its intense radiation is mostly in the ultraviolet spectrum and is heavily obscured by interstellar dust.
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