VY Canis Majoris: A Colossal Star in Canis Major
VY Canis Majoris is one of the largest known stars in the galaxy, with a size so immense that if it replaced our Sun, it would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and reach past Jupiter. Despite its staggering size and luminosity, it appears relatively dim in our night sky due to its vast distance from Earth.

This red supergiant is in a late stage of stellar evolution, consuming its fuel at an extraordinary rate and losing mass continuously. Vast amounts of gas and dust are ejected, forming a complex surrounding nebula, first detected almost a century ago. Astronomers have studied its asymmetrical environment using advanced instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory, revealing the dynamics of its powerful stellar winds.

Because of its immense mass and rapid fuel consumption, VY Canis Majoris has a relatively short lifespan. Experts predict that in roughly 100,000 years, it could explode as a supernova, eventually leaving behind a black hole. Its dramatic life and extreme characteristics make it a prime subject for studying massive star evolution and the life cycle of supergiants.