VY CMa is one of the largest stars known, with a radius estimated to be about 1,420 times that of the Sun. It is also incredibly luminous, about 300,000 times brighter than the Sun.

VY Canis Majoris is one of the most massive and luminous red supergiants known in the Milky Way. It is a single star, without any known companions.

The star is surrounded by a complex circumstellar envelope (CSE) formed of material expelled from the star’s surface.

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Massive Star VY Canis Major                                                       Image Credit: NASA and ESA

VY CMa, found in the constellation Canis Major, is located in the southern sky. Its name means "the greater dog" in Latin. Canis Major represents the larger dog following Orion, the hunter, in Greek mythology. The Great Dog is often depicted pursuing a hare, represented by the constellation Lepus. The smaller dog is symbolized by the nearby constellation Canis Minor.

This massive red supergiant is known for being one of the largest stars identified to date. As VY Canis Majoris approaches the end of its life cycle, it undergoes a process that will eventually lead to a supernova explosion. This event dramatically alters the star’s existence, leaving behind remnants that could evolve into either a neutron star or a black hole.

Location of VY Canis Majoris, image: Stellarium

The life and death of VY Canis Majoris mirror the human journey through existence. The cycle of birth, growth, and inevitable mortality, colored with the idea of after life and transformation, echoes existential questions about the meaning and impermanence of life.

Cosmic Location: Canis Major Constellation

Celestial Phenomenon: VY CMa

Collection: 88 Constellations