images

VY Canis Majoris

by

Nasa/ESA/Novapix

Reference

a-eto02-00060

Date

2017-01-29

VY Canis Majoris is a red supergiant star that is also classified as a hypergiant because of its very high luminosity. The eruptions have formed loops, arcs, and knots of material moving at various speeds and in many different directions. The star has had many outbursts over the past 1,000 years as it nears the end of its life.