description Pistol Star Overview
A luminous blue hypergiant near the Galactic Center and among the most luminous stars in the Milky Way, revealed in the 1990s through infrared imaging.
insights Why this score
Pistol Star ranks #76 of 217 in the Star ranking, behind Adhara, ahead of Izar.
Galactic-center luminous hypergiant with strong 1990s fame, but luminosity rankings remain debated.
help Pistol Star FAQ
Where is the Pistol Star located?
The Pistol Star is located deep within the Milky Way galaxy, near the Galactic Center in the constellation Sagittarius. It lies incredibly close to the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy.
Why was the Pistol Star discovered in the 1990s?
The star was hidden behind thick clouds of cosmic dust, making it invisible to standard optical telescopes. It was only revealed in the 1990s when astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope's infrared imaging capabilities to peer through the dust.
How massive and bright is the Pistol Star?
The Pistol Star is a luminous blue hypergiant and ranks among the most massive and luminous stars ever discovered in the Milky Way. It emits millions of times more light than the Sun and is thought to shed massive amounts of gas.
How did the Pistol Star get its name?
The star derives its name from the Pistol Nebula, a massive, pistol-shaped cloud of gas and dust that surrounds it. This surrounding gas is material that was violently ejected from the star's outer layers.
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