What does this number measure?
A red supergiant in an eclipsing binary system. The depicted disc represents the diameter, twice the adopted radius of 1050 nominal solar radii (1 nominal solar radius = 695 700 km). The value is a dated estimate, not an established size record. The reference radius of 1 050 solar radii is associated with the synthesis by Bauer et al. (2008). Other studies give up to about 1 800 solar radii; distance, distortion and binary interaction prevent a simple ranking.
Compare the stated dimensions
The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.
Source and limitations
A reference radius of 1 050 solar radii associated with the summary by Bauer et al. (2008). Other studies give up to approximately 1 800 solar radii; distance, distortion and binary interaction prevent a simple ranking.
VV Cephei A: artistic illustration of a stellar photosphere. A shared generic pattern is used to compare diameters; this is neither a photograph nor a reconstruction of this star. The value and its uncertainties come from the object entry.