description NML Cygni Overview
NML Cygni, also designated V1489 Cygni, is an extreme red hypergiant star located in the constellation of Cygnus. Estimated to have a radius exceeding 1,600 times that of the Sun, it ranks among the largest and most luminous stars ever discovered. The star is an M-type supergiant surrounded by a dense, dusty circumstellar shell resulting from massive ongoing mass loss. Its great distance and heavy obscuration make precise measurements challenging, but it remains a critical object for studying the late-stage evolution of extremely massive stars.
help NML Cygni FAQ
What kind of star is NML Cygni?
NML Cygni is a red hypergiant, placing it among the largest and most luminous stars ever discovered in our galaxy. It is currently undergoing intense mass loss as it approaches the end of its short, chaotic life.
How large is the star NML Cygni?
The star's radius is estimated to exceed 1,600 times that of our Sun, meaning it would easily swallow the orbit of Jupiter if placed in our solar system. This sheer scale makes it one of the physically largest stars known to modern astronomy.
Where is NML Cygni located?
This massive star is located in the constellation Cygnus, situated roughly 5,300 light-years away from Earth. Despite its immense size, it is obscured by thick clouds of cosmic dust and cannot be seen without a telescope.
What does the name NML stand for in NML Cygni?
The star's initials honor its discoverers, a team of astronomers named Neugebauer, Martz, and Leighton. They first identified the extremely bright infrared source in 1965 using telescopes at the Mount Wilson Observatory.
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