description S Doradus Overview
S Doradus is a Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) star located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. It serves as the prototype for its class of variable stars, which undergo dramatic changes in brightness and sporadic mass-loss events known as S Doradus outbursts. The star ranks among the most luminous known stars in the universe, emitting millions of times more energy than the Sun. Its evolution and extreme mass loss are heavily studied to understand the life cycles of the most massive stars.
insights Ranking position
S Doradus ranks #81 of 212 in the Star ranking, behind Izar, ahead of Bellatrix.
help S Doradus FAQ
Where is the star S Doradus located?
S Doradus is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way visible in the southern hemisphere. It resides roughly 160,000 light-years away from Earth.
What type of variable star is S Doradus?
S Doradus is a luminous blue variable (LBV), which represents one of the most violent and unpredictable phases of supermassive star evolution. It is actually the prototype for this entire class of star, which experiences dramatic, unpredictable eruptions.
What is S Doradus variability?
S Doradus variability defines the specific behavior where a massive star undergoes brief, massive outbursts, shedding huge amounts of stellar material. During these eruptions, the star can temporarily become one of the brightest objects in its entire galaxy.
How big is the star S Doradus?
Before recent observations revealed it might be a binary system, S Doradus was believed to be one of the most massive single stars known to exist. Even as a binary, the primary component is massive enough to rank among the largest stars ever cataloged.
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