How big can a star get?

Astronomy Without A Telescope – How Big Is Big?
http://www.universetoday.com/91691/a...ow-big-is-big/


"The most massive star of all may be R136a1, which has an estimated mass
of over 265 solar masses – although the exact figure is the subject of
ongoing debate, since its mass can only be inferred indirectly. Even so,
its mass is almost certainly over the ‘theoretical’ stellar mass limit
of 150 solar masses. This theoretical limit is based on mathematically
modelling the Eddington limit, the point at which a star’s luminosity is
so high that its outwards radiation pressure exceeds its self-gravity.
In other words, beyond the Eddington limit, a star will cease to
accumulate more mass and will begin to blow off large amounts of its
existing mass as stellar wind."

On Dec 10, 10:23*pm, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Astronomy Without A Telescope – How Big Is Big?http://www.universetoday..com/91691/...telescope-how-...

"The most massive star of all may be R136a1, which has an estimated mass
of over 265 solar masses – although the exact figure is the subject of
ongoing debate, since its mass can only be inferred indirectly. Even so,
its mass is almost certainly over the ‘theoretical’ stellar mass limit
of 150 solar masses. This theoretical limit is based on mathematically
modelling the Eddington limit, the point at which a star’s luminosity is
so high that its outwards radiation pressure exceeds its self-gravity.
In other words, beyond the Eddington limit, a star will cease to
accumulate more mass and will begin to blow off large amounts of its
existing mass as stellar wind."

Check out the size of the star called Rigel its so big that its as
bright as 150,000 Suns. The largest type of star is a "red supergiant"
Antares in Scorpio is a good example. So how big is big,and how small
is small Go figure TreBert

On 12/10/11 9:23 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Astronomy Without A Telescope – How Big Is Big?
http://www.universetoday.com/91691/a...ow-big-is-big/



"The most massive star of all may be R136a1, which has an estimated mass
of over 265 solar masses – although the exact figure is the subject of
ongoing debate, since its mass can only be inferred indirectly. Even so,
its mass is almost certainly over the ‘theoretical’ stellar mass limit
of 150 solar masses. This theoretical limit is based on mathematically
modelling the Eddington limit, the point at which a star’s luminosity is
so high that its outwards radiation pressure exceeds its self-gravity.
In other words, beyond the Eddington limit, a star will cease to
accumulate more mass and will begin to blow off large amounts of its
existing mass as stellar wind."

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i...t+massive+star

On 11/12/2011 5:27 PM, Sam Wormley wrote:
On 12/10/11 9:23 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Astronomy Without A Telescope – How Big Is Big?
http://www.universetoday.com/91691/a...ow-big-is-big/




"The most massive star of all may be R136a1, which has an estimated mass
of over 265 solar masses – although the exact figure is the subject of
ongoing debate, since its mass can only be inferred indirectly. Even so,
its mass is almost certainly over the ‘theoretical’ stellar mass limit
of 150 solar masses. This theoretical limit is based on mathematically
modelling the Eddington limit, the point at which a star’s luminosity is
so high that its outwards radiation pressure exceeds its self-gravity.
In other words, beyond the Eddington limit, a star will cease to
accumulate more mass and will begin to blow off large amounts of its
existing mass as stellar wind."

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i...t+massive+star

Nice! Wolfram has been updated recently then. I've put in this question
to Wolfram in the past, and it couldn't find anything.

Yousuf Khan