Cosmoview Episode 51: Sharpest Image Ever of Universe’s Most Massive Known Star

By harnessing the capabilities of the 8.1-meter Gemini South telescope in Chile, which is part of the International Gemini Observatory operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, astronomers have obtained the sharpest image ever of the star R136a1, the most massive known star in the Universe. Their research, led by NOIRLab astronomer Venu M. Kalari, challenges our understanding of the most massive stars and suggests that they may not be as massive as previously thought.

Credit:

Images and Videos: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Kwon O Chul
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)
Music: Stellardrone - Airglow

About the Video

Id:noirlab2220a
Release date:Aug. 18, 2022, 1 p.m.
Related releases:noirlab2220
Duration:01 m 12 s
Frame rate:29.97

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