List of most luminous stars

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This is a list of stars arranged by their absolute magnitude – their intrinsic stellar luminosity. This cannot be observed directly, so instead must be calculated from the apparent magnitude (the brightness as seen from Earth), the distance to each star, and a correction for interstellar extinction. The entries in the list below are further corrected to provide the bolometric magnitude, i.e., integrated over all wavelengths; this relies upon measurements in multiple photometric filters and extrapolation of the stellar spectrum based on the stellar spectral type and/or effective temperature.

Entries give the bolometric luminosity in multiples of the luminosity of the Sun (L☉) and the bolometric absolute magnitude. As with all magnitude systems in astronomy, the latter scale is logarithmic and inverted i.e., more negative numbers are more luminous.

Most stars on this list are not bright enough to be visible to the naked eye from Earth, because of their high distances, high extinction, or because they emit most of their light outside the visible range. For a list of the brightest stars seen from Earth, see the list of brightest stars. There are three stars with over 1 million L☉ and visible to the naked eye: WR 22, WR 24 and Eta Carinae. All of these stars are located in the Carina nebula.

Measurement

Accurate measurement of stellar luminosities is difficult, even when the apparent magnitude is measured accurately, for four reasons:

  1. The distance d to the star must be known, to convert apparent to absolute magnitude. Absolute magnitude is the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 10 parsecs (~32 light years) away from the viewer. Because apparent brightness decreases as the square of the distance (i.e., as 1/d2), a small error (e.g. 10%) in determining d implies an error ~2× as large (thus 20%) in luminosity (see binomial approximation). Stellar distances are only directly measured accurately out to d ~1,000 light years.[citation needed]
  2. The observed magnitudes must be corrected for the absorption or extinction of intervening interstellar or circumstellar dust and gas. This correction can be enormous and difficult to determine precisely. For example, until accurate infrared observations became possible ~50 years ago, the Galactic Center of the Milky Way was totally obscured to visual observations.
  3. The magnitudes at the wavelengths measured must be corrected for those not observed. "Absolute bolometric magnitude" (which term is redundant, practically speaking, since bolometric magnitudes are nearly always "absolute", i.e., corrected for distance) is a measure of the star's luminosity, summing over its emission at all wavelengths, and thus the total amount of energy radiated by a star every second. Bolometric magnitudes can only be estimated by correcting for unobserved portions of the spectrum that have to be modelled, which is always an issue, and often a large correction. The list is dominated by hot blue stars which produce the majority of their energy output in the ultraviolet, but these may not necessarily be the brightest stars at visual wavelengths.
  4. A large proportion of stellar systems discovered with very high luminosity have later been found to be binary. Usually, this results in the total system luminosity being reduced and spread among several components. These binaries are common both because the conditions that produce high mass high luminosity stars also favour multiple star systems, but also because searches for highly luminous stars are inevitably biased towards detecting systems with multiple more normal stars combining to appear luminous.[citation needed]

Because of all these problems, other references may give very different values for the most luminous stars (different ordering or different stars altogether). Data on different stars can be of somewhat different reliability, depending on the attention one particular star has received as well as largely differing physical difficulties in analysis (see the Pistol Star for an example). The last stars in the list are familiar nearby stars put there for comparison, and not among the most luminous known. It may also interest the reader to know that the Sun is more luminous than approximately 95% of all known stars in the local neighbourhood (out to, say, a few hundred light years), due to enormous numbers of somewhat less massive stars that are cooler and often much less luminous. For perspective, the overall range of stellar luminosities runs from dwarfs less than 1/10,000th as luminous as the Sun to supergiants over 1,000,000 times more luminous.

Data

Legend
Wolf–Rayet star
Luminous blue variable
O-type star
B-type star
A-type star
F-type star

This list is currently limited mostly to objects in our galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds, but a few stars in other local group galaxies can now be examined in enough detail to determine their luminosities. Some suspected binaries in this magnitude range are excluded because there is insufficient information about the luminosity of the individual components. Selected fainter stars are also shown for comparison. Despite their extreme luminosity, many of these stars are nevertheless too distant to be observed with the naked eye. Stars that are at least sometimes visible to the unaided eye have their apparent magnitude (6.5 or brighter) highlighted in blue.

Thanks to gravitational lensing, stars that are strongly magnified can be seen at much larger distances. Godzilla — an LBV in the distant Sunburst galaxy — is probably the brightest star ever observed, although it is believed to be undergoing a temporary episode of increased luminosity that has lasted at least seven years, in a similar manner to the Great Eruption of Eta Carinae that was witnessed in the 19th century.

The first list shows a few of the known stars with an estimated luminosity of 1 million L☉ or greater, including the stars in open clusters, OB associations and H II regions. The majority of stars thought to be more than 1 million L☉ are shown, but the list is incomplete.

The second list gives some notable stars for the purpose of comparison.

Stars with 1 million L☉ or greater
Star name Location L (L☉) Mbol Dist. (ly) mV Teff (K) Spectral type Link Refs.
R136a1 R136 7,244,000+699,000
−1,078,000 		-12.41 163,000 12.28 46,000+1,250
−2,375 		WN5h SIMBAD
R136a2 R136 5,129,000+367,000
−342,000 		-12.035 163,000 12.34 47,000+1,000
−625 		WN5h SIMBAD
BAT99-98 NGC 2070 5,012,000 -12.01 165,000 13.38 45,000 WN6 SIMBAD
G0.238-0.071 (in Galactic Center) 5,012,000 -12.01 26,000 14.37 (J band) 39,500-44,000 WN11h SIMBAD
R136a3 R136 5,012,000+236,000
−226,000 		-12.01 163,000 12.97 50,000+2,500
−8,000 		WN5h SIMBAD
[BMS2003] 867 A (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 4,932,000 -12 2,700,000 16.29 (combined) 42,400 O4Iab SIMBAD
M33-013406.63 A (in Triangulum Galaxy) 4,677,000 -11.935 3,000,000 16.084 (combined) 30,000 O9.5Ia SIMBAD
[BMS2003] 867 B (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 4,395,000 -11.87 2,700,000 16.29 (combined) 42,400 O4Ia SIMBAD
Westerhout 49-2 W49 South 4,365,000+3,397,000
−1,910,000 		-11.86 36,200 18.246 (J band) 35,500+1,700
−1,600 		O2-3.5If* SIMBAD
HD 37836 (in LMC) 4,169,000 -11.81 163,000 10.55 28,200 B0Iae SIMBAD
Sk -69° 249 A NGC 2074 4,130,000 -11.8 160,000 10.68 38,900 O7If SIMBAD
η Carinae A Trumpler 16 4,000,000 -11.77 7,500 ~4 (combined) 9,400–35,200 LBV SIMBAD
V4998 Sagittarii near Quintuplet Cluster 4,000,000 -11.77 25,000 12.534 (J band) 12,000 LBV SIMBAD
R136c R136 3,802,000+1,568,000
−1,110,000 		-11.71 163,000 13.43 42,170±1,890 WN5h SIMBAD
V1429 Aquilae 3,802,000 -11.71 12,800 9.89 ~30,000 B3Ibe SIMBAD
Melnick 42 R136 3,631,000 -11.66 163,000 12.78 47,300 O2If* SIMBAD
Mercer 23-2 (WR 125–3 in Mercer 23 near Galactic plane) 3,631,000 -11.66 21,200 8.646 (J band) 38,000 WNL7-8 SIMBAD
NGC 2403 V14 (in NGC 2403) 3,436,000 -11.6 10,314,000 18.83 7,000 F5Ie SIMBAD
G0.070+0.025 (in Galactic Center) 3,311,000 -11.56 26,000 14.799 (J band) 45,000 O4-6If+ SIMBAD
Mercer 30-1 A Mercer 30 3,236,000 -11.535 40,000 10.33 (J band) 32,200 O6-7.5If+ SIMBAD
VFTS 682 Runaway from R136 3,236,000+838,000
−666,000 		-11.535 164,000 16.08 54,450±1,960 WN5h SIMBAD
WR 42e Runaway from HD 97950 3,200,000 -11.523 25,000 14.53 43,700 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD
R99 LH 49 3,162,000 -11.51 163,000 11.52 28,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
NGC 4736-1 Cat's Eye Galaxy 3,162,000 -11.5 16,000,000 19.31 18,000 LBV SIMBAD
VFTS 1022 R136 3,020,000+782,000
−621,000 		-11.46 164,000 13.47 42,170±1,520 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD
WR 24 Collinder 228 2,951,000 -11.435 8,200 6.48 50,100 WN6ha-w SIMBAD
Peony Star near Galactic Center 2,951,000+1,217,000
−862,000 		-11.435 26,000 12.978 (J band) 25,100 WN10 SIMBAD
CXOGC J174528.6-285605 (WR 101–6 in Galactic Center) 2,884,000 -11.41 26,000 14.46 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
G0.059-0.068 (in Galactic Center) 2,884,000 -11.41 26,000 13.337 (J band) 39,500-44,000 B0-1Ia+/WNLh SIMBAD
HD 97950 B HD 97950 2,884,000+504,000
−429,000 		-11.41 24,000 11.33 42,000±2,000 WN6h SIMBAD
MWC 801 Milky Way 2,881,000 -11.4 11,200 10.52 41,000 Be SIMBAD
HD 38282 A Runaway from R136 2,754,000+336,000
−300,000 		-11.35 163,000 11.11 (combined) 50,000±2,000 WN5/6h SIMBAD
Melnick 34 A R136 2,692,000+544,000
−453,000 		-11.335 163,000 13.09 (combined) 53,000±1,200 WN5h SIMBAD
VFTS 506 NGC 2070 2,692,000 -11.335 164,000 13.31 55,000 ON2V((n))((f*)) SIMBAD
WR 102hb Quintuplet cluster 2,630,000 -11.31 26,000 13.9 (J band) 25,100 WN10h SIMBAD
[S83] B162 Pinwheel Galaxy 2,606,000 -11.3 21,600,000 18.53 12,103 B8-A0la+ SIMBAD
[BMS2003] 578 C (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 2,564,000 -11.28 2,700,000 15.97 (combined) 34,000 O9II SIMBAD
WR 102ea Quintuplet cluster 2,455,000 -11.235 26,000 13.18 (J band) 25,100 WN9h SIMBAD
HD 38282 B Runaway from R136 2,455,000+300,000
−267,000 		-11.235 163,000 11.11 (combined) 45,000±2,000 WN6/7h SIMBAD
CXOGC J174516.1-284909 (WR 101–2 in Galactic Center) 2,399,000 -11.21 26,000 11.49 (J band) 20,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
CXOGC J174711.4-283006 (WR 102–9 in Galactic Center) 2,399,000 -11.21 26,000 16.56 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
WR 25 A Trumpler 16 2,399,000 -11.21 6,800 8.8 (combined) 50,100 WN6h-w SIMBAD
[S83] B189 Pinwheel Galaxy 2,377,000 -11.2 21,600,000 18.63 7,658 A0-A2la+
LGGS J004444.52+412804.0 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 2,377,000 -11.2 2,500,000 18.1 7,000-18,000 F0Ia SIMBAD
HD 269327 (in LMC) 2,377,000 -11.2 163,000 10.74 28,200 OB SIMBAD
Sk -69° 212 NGC 2044 2,377,000 -11.2 160,000 12.416 45,400 O5III(f) SIMBAD
Melnick 34 B R136 2,344,000+474,000
−394,000 		-11.185 163,000 13.09 (combined) 53,000±1,200 WN5h SIMBAD
VVV CL041-8 (WR 62–2 in VVV CL041) 2,344,000 -11.185 13,700 10.146 (J band) 34,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
LH 10-3209 A NGC 1763 2,312,000 -11.17 160,000 12.73 50,900 O3III(f*) SIMBAD
Cl 1813-178 #16 (in Cl 1813-178 of W33 Complex) 2,291,000 -11.16 15,300 9.428 (J band) 30,200 O8-O9If SIMBAD
R147 Runaway from R136 2,291,000+593,000
−471,000 		-11.16 164,000 13.02 47,320±1,700 WN5h SIMBAD
R136a7 R136 2,291,000+280,000
−341,000 		-11.16 163,000 13.97 54,000+2,000
−3,000 		O3III(f*) SIMBAD
VVV CL074-12 (in VVV CL074) 2,291,000 -11.16 20,000 12.34 (J band) 22,500 B0.5-2I SIMBAD
Arches-F9 Arches Cluster 2,239,000 -11.135 25,000 16.1 (J band) 36,600 WN8–9h SIMBAD
HD 5980 A NGC 346 2,239,000+580,000
−460,000 		-11.135 200,000 11.31 (combined) 45,000±5,000 WN6h SIMBAD
HD 97950 C1 HD 97950 2,239,000+392,000
−333,000 		-11.135 24,000 11.89 (combined) 44,000±2,000 WN6h SIMBAD
R136b R136 2,239,000+160,000
−149,000 		-11.135 165,000 13.24 35,500±750 O4If SIMBAD
R145 A Tarantula Nebula 2,239,000+924,000
−654,000 		-11.135 163,000 12.04 (combined) 50,000±3,000 WN6h SIMBAD
Var 83 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 2,239,000 -11.135 3,000,000 16.027 18,000-37,000 LBV SIMBAD
HD 269810 NGC 2029 2,188,000 -11.11 163,000 12.28 52,500 O2III(f*) SIMBAD
BI 265 (in LMC) 2,188,000 -11.11 163,000 12.38 49,800 O5III(fc) SIMBAD
CXOGC J174712.2-283121 (WR 102–10 in Galactic Center) 2,188,000 -11.11 26,000 17.06 (J band) 35,000 WN7-8h SIMBAD
MWC 470 2,176,000 -11.1 12,500 11.5 37,500 Be SIMBAD
ST5-31 NGC 2074 2,168,000 -11.1 160,000 12.273 50,700 O3If* SIMBAD
GGA 378 2,159,000 -11.1 20,200 12.5 40,900 OB?e SIMBAD
HD 268804 (in LMC) 2,148,000 -11.09 163,000 11.21 28,200 OB SIMBAD
MWC 791 Shoe-Buckle Cluster 2,147,000 -11.09 10,800 10.7 40,500 B1 SIMBAD
G0.058+0.014 (in Galactic Center) 2,138,000 -11.085 26,000 14.704 (J band) 45,000 O4-6If+ SIMBAD
LGGS J013508.78+303639.9 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 2,138,000 -11.085 2,834,000 14.00 7,464 A9la SIMBAD
R145 B Tarantula Nebula 2,138,000+882,000
−624,000 		-11.085 163,000 12.04 (combined) 43,000±3,000 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD
WR 89 HM 1 2,138,000 -11.085 9,500 11.02 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD
Arches-F6 Arches Cluster 2,089,000+255,000
−227,000 		-11.06 25,000 15.75 (J band) 33,300±1,300 WN8-9ha SIMBAD
R136a5 R136 2,089,000+149,000
−139,000 		-11.06 163,000 13.71 48,000±750 O2I(n)f* SIMBAD
BD+43° 3654 Runaway from Cygnus OB2 2,030,000±210,000 -11.029 5,400 10.06 46,800±900 O6If+ SIMBAD
AFGL 2298 (near Galactic plane) 2,000,000 -11.013 33,000 12.164 (J band) 15,500-26,000 B8I SIMBAD
Arches-F1 Arches Cluster 1,995,000 -11.01 25,000 16.3 (J band) 33,200 WN8-9h SIMBAD
Arches-F4 Arches Cluster 1,995,000 -11.01 25,000 15.63 (J band) 36,800 WN7-8h SIMBAD
M33C-15731 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,995,000 -11.01 2,834,000 16.819 (V band) 20,000 LBV SIMBAD
CXOGC J174656.3-283232 (WR 102–8 in Galactic Center) 1,995,000 -11.01 26,000 16.74 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
LBV 1806-20 (in G10.0–0.3 of Galactic Center) 1,995,000 -11.01 28,000 13.66 (J band) 18,000-32,000 O9-B2 SIMBAD
Mercer 81-2 (WR 76–7 in Mercer 81 of G338.4+0.2) 1,995,000 -11.01 35,900 13.25 (J band) 36,000 WN7-8 SIMBAD
VFTS 545 R136 1,995,000+516,000
−410,000 		-11.01 164,000 13.32 47,320±1,700 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD
WR 147S (in Cygnus OB2) 1,995,000 -11.01 5,800 13.86 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD
MWC 473 1,980,000 -11.0 12,900 11.46 29,600 Be SIMBAD
10584-9-1 (in Messier 81) 1,977,000 -11.0 11,842,000 19.1 18,000 sgB[e] SIMBAD
2MASS J04542610-6911022 (in LMC) 1,959,000 -10.99 163,000 12.68 37,200 O7V SIMBAD
R146 Runaway from R136 1,950,000+505,000
−401,000 		-10.985 164,000 13.11 53,090±1,910 WN5ha SIMBAD
DBSB 179-15 (WR 84–6 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,950,000 -10.985 25,800 12.5 (J band) 37,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
G0.114+0.021 (WR 102–12 in Galactic Center) 1,950,000 -10.985 26,000 16.672 (J band) 40,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
R136a4 R136 1,905,000+90,000
−207,000 		-10.96 163,000 13.41 50,000+500
−2,000 		O3V((f*))(n) SIMBAD
Westerhout 49-1 W49 cluster 1 1,905,000+786,000
−556,000 		-10.96 36,200 15.531 (J band) 44,700+2,100
−2,000 		O2-3.5If* SIMBAD
WR 22 A (in Bochum 10 of Carina Nebula) 1,905,000 -10.96 8,200 6.42 (combined) 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD
HD 269219 (in LMC) 1,888,000 -10.95 163,000 10.87 28,200 OB SIMBAD
Arches-F2 A Arches Cluster 1,862,000+227,000
−203,000 		-10.935 25,000 17.84 (J band, combined) 34,100+2,000
−1,000 		WN8-9h SIMBAD
Arches-F7 Arches Cluster 1,862,000+227,000
−203,000 		-10.935 25,000 15.74 (J band) 33,900±1,300 WN8-9ha SIMBAD
HSH95-36 R136 1,862,000+133,000
−124,000 		-10.935 163,000 14.41 49,500+750
−1,000 		O2If* SIMBAD
Hen 3-519 (WR 31a in Blue Bubble Nebula) 1,820,000 -10.91 24,000 10.85 30,200 WN11h SIMBAD
W61 3-20 (in LMC) 1,820,000 -10.91 163,000 13.55 39,800 O5-6V((f))z SIMBAD
Westerhout 51-57 G49.5-0.4 1,820,000–4,786,000 -10.91 20,000 16.958 (J band) 42,700 O4V SIMBAD
LGGS J004051.59+403303.0 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,803,000 -10.9 2,500,000 16.989 18,000-24,000 LBV SIMBAD
MSX5C G358.5391+00.1305 (in Wray 17-96) 1,800,000 -10.898 15,000 15 13,000 B[e]: SIMBAD
HD 5980 B NGC 346 1,778,000+734,000
−519,000 		-10.885 200,000 11.31 (combined) 45,000+10,000
−7,000 		WN6-7 SIMBAD
WR 130 (in Cygnus OB3) 1,778,000 -10.885 21,700 12.13 44,700 WN8(h) SIMBAD
V4650 Sagittarii Quintuplet cluster 1,770,000 -12.5 – -10.9 25,000 12.31 (J band) 11,300 LBV SIMBAD
CXOGC J174536.1-285638 (WR 101–1 in Galactic Center) 1,738,000 -10.86 26,000 15.55 (J band) 30,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
Mercer 30-7 A Mercer 30 1,738,000 -10.86 40,000 11.516 (J band) 41,400 WN6 SIMBAD
HD 35342 B (in LMC) 1,722,000 -10.85 163,000 11.28 24,000 B0.5I SIMBAD
CPD−69 471 (in LMC) 1,706,000 -10.84 163,000 12.37 42,700 O2-3(n)fp SIMBAD
DBSB 179-20 (WR 84–1 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,698,000 -10.835 25,800 12.37 (J band) 35,000 WN8-9 SIMBAD
Cygnus OB2 #12 A Cygnus OB2 1,660,000 -10.81 5,000 11.702 (combined) 13,700 B3-4Ia+ SIMBAD
PGMW 3120 (in LMC) 1,644,000 -10.8 163,000 12.47 39,800 O5.5V((f*)) SIMBAD
Sher 18 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,644,000 -10.8 25,000 12.51 39,500 O3.5If SIMBAD
Sher 47 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,644,000 -10.8 25,000 12.67 44,000 O4V SIMBAD
Mercer 23-1 (in Mercer 23 near Galactic plane) 1,622,000 -10.785 21,200 10.615 (J band) 35,000 O5.5I SIMBAD
VFTS 1017 R136 1,622,000+420,000
−334,000 		-10.785 164,000 14.52 50,120±1,800 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD
WR 87 HM 1 1,622,000 -10.785 9,500 11.83 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD
HD 269896 (in LMC) 1,600,000 -10.77 163,000 11.36 29,500 ON9.7Ia+ SIMBAD
Pistol Star Quintuplet Cluster 1,600,000 -10.77 25,000 11.79 (J band) 11,800 LBV SIMBAD
J025941.21+251412.2 (in NGC 1156) 1,600,000 -10.77 23,000,000 LBV SIMBAD
Melnick 39 A R136 1,585,000+654,000
−463,000 		-10.76 160,000 13.0 (combined) 44,000±2,500 O3If*/WN6-A SIMBAD
AF Andromedae (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,585,000 -10.76 2,500,000 17.325 28,000 LBV SIMBAD
Arches-F12 Arches Cluster 1,585,000 -10.76 25,000 16.4 (J band) 36,900 WN7-8h SIMBAD
HSH95-18 R136 1,585,000 -10.76 163,000 13.87 47,000 O3III(f+) SIMBAD
R139 A NGC 2070 1,585,000+235,000
−205,000 		-10.76 163,000 11.94 (combined) 34,000±1,100 O6.5I SIMBAD
LHO 110 Quintuplet cluster 1,585,000 -10.76 26,000 13.87 (J band) 25,100 WN9h SIMBAD
R140a1 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,585,000 -10.76 163,000 12.12 (combined) 34,000 WN4 SIMBAD
VFTS 457 NGC 2070 1,585,000+410,000
−326,000 		-10.76 164,000 13.74 39,810±1,430 O3.5If*/WN7 SIMBAD
WR 107 (in Sagittarius OB1) 1,585,000 -10.76 9,400 13.51 50,100 WN8 SIMBAD
WR 140 B (in Cygnus OB1) 1,585,000 -10.76 5,300 6.85 (combined) 35,000 O5 SIMBAD
WR 148 A (Runaway star from Galactic plane) 1,585,000 -10.76 27,100 10.3 (combined) 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD
R134 R136 1,585,000+410,000
−326,000 		-10.76 164,000 12.58 42,170±1,520 WN6(h) SIMBAD
CXOGC J174617.0-285131 (in Galactic Center) 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 14.98 (J band) 40,000 O6If+ SIMBAD
CXOGC J174725.3-282709 (in Galactic Center) 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 16.37 (J band) 30,000 O4-6I SIMBAD
Sk -68° 137 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,549,000 -10.735 160,000 13.346 55,000 OB SIMBAD
WR 102i Quintuplet cluster 1,549,000 -10.735 26,000 14.31 (J band) 31,600 WN9h SIMBAD
WR 21a A Runaway from Westerlund 2 1,514,000+224,000
−195,000 		-10.71 14,300 12.661 (combined) 42,000 O2.5If*/WN6ha SIMBAD
Westerhout 49-3 W49 CC 1,514,000+528,000
−392,000 		-10.71 36,200 16.689 (J band) 40,700+5,000
−4,400 		O3-O7V SIMBAD
Brey 21 A (in NGC 1910 of LMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 165,000 11.29 (combined) 71,000 WN SIMBAD
HD 97950 A2 (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,500,000 -10.7 24,000 12.53 46,500 O3V SIMBAD
HM 1-6 HM 1 1,500,000 -10.7 11,000 11.64 44,800 O5If SIMBAD
LGGS J013245.41+303858.3 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,500,000 -10.7 3,000,000 17.612 34,000 Ofpe SIMBAD
NGC 346-W1 NGC 346 1,500,000 -10.7 200,000 12.57 43,400 O5.5If SIMBAD
Sk -65° 47 (in NGC 1923 of LMC) 1,500,000 -10.7 160,000 12.466 47,800 O4If SIMBAD
Sk 80 NGC 346 1,500,000 -10.7 200,000 12.31 38,900 O7If SIMBAD
10584-4-1 (in Messier 81) 1,500,000 -10.7 11,842,000 19.68 19,671 sgB[e] SIMBAD
Object #A (in NGC 4068) 1,500,000 -10.7 14,220,000 21.145 40,000 WN
R136a8 R136 1,479,000+106,000
−99,000 		-10.685 163,000 14.42 49,500±1,250 O2-3V SIMBAD
AS 107 1,456,000 -10.67 10,100 11.44 34,000 B SIMBAD
R139 B NGC 2070 1,445,000+214,000
−187,000 		-10.66 163,000 11.94 (combined) 34,700±1,100 O7I SIMBAD
[HCD2002] 107 (in LMC) 1,445,000 -10.66 163,000 13.79 40,700 O4-6Vz SIMBAD
VFTS 542 R136 1,445,000+374,000
−297,000 		-10.66 164,000 13.49 44,670±2,010 O2If*/WN5 SIMBAD
Z15 Messier 81 1,445,000+139,000
−127,000 		-10.66 11,800,000 20.495 25,000±1,000 B0.5 SIMBAD
AB8 A NGC 602c 1,413,000+366,000
−291,000 		-10.635 197,000 12.9 (combined) 141,000+60,000
−20,000 		WO4 SIMBAD
CXOGC J174550.2-284911 (WR 102–4 in Galactic Center) 1,413,000 -10.635 26,000 15.24 (J band) 30,000 WN9h SIMBAD
HD 93129 Aa Trumpler 14 1,413,000+172,000
−154,000 		-10.635 7,500 6.9 (combined) 52,000±3,000 O2If* SIMBAD
DBSB 179-4 (WR 84–7 in DBSB 179 of G347.6+0.2) 1,413,000 -10.635 25,800 12.25 (J band) 30,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
LGGS J013235.25+303017.6 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,413,000 -10.635 3,000,000 18.007 33,000 LBV SIMBAD
Melnick 33Na A R136 1,413,000+725,000
−479,000 		-10.635 164,000 13.79 (combined) 50,000±2,500 OC2.5If* SIMBAD
WR 66 (in Circinus OB1) 1,413,000 -10.635 16,900 11.34 44,700 WN8(h) SIMBAD
HD 269846 (in LMC) 1,406,000 -10.63 163,000 11.63 28,200 OB SIMBAD
HD 37974 NGC 2050 1,400,000 -10.625 163,000 10.99 22,500 B0.5Ia+ SIMBAD
W61 3-24 (in LMC) 1,393,000 -10.62 163,000 14.03 43,700 O3.5V(f+) SIMBAD
VFTS 621 NGC 2070 1,380,000 -10.61 164,000 15.39 50,100 O2V((f*))z SIMBAD
WR 131 (in Cygnus OB3) 1,380,000 -10.61 22,600 12.08 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD
Sk -69° 104 (in NGC 1910 of LMC) 1,368,000 -10.6 160,000 12.1 39,900 O6Ib(f) SIMBAD
Var A-1 (in Andromeda Galaxy) 1,368,000 -10.6 2,500,000 17.143 21,700 LBV SIMBAD
Arches-F2 B Arches Cluster 1,349,000+165,000
−147,000 		-10.585 25,000 17.84 (J band, combined) 33,800+2,000
−1,000 		O5-6Ia+ SIMBAD
Mercer 30-6a A Mercer 30 1,349,000 -10.585 40,000 10.39 (J band) 29,900 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
VFTS 427 NGC 2070 1,349,000+349,000
−277,000 		-10.585 164,000 13.76 41,690±1,500 WN8(h) SIMBAD
Westerhout 51-3 G49.5-0.4 1,349,000+626,000
−437,000–3,890,000+4,238,000
−2,028,000 		-10.585 20,000 16.998 (J band) 39,800 O3V-O8V SIMBAD
HD 269722 (in LMC) 1,343,000 -10.58 163,000 11.52 28,200 OBe SIMBAD
VFTS 16 Runaway from R136 1,318,000+341,000
−271,000 		-10.56 164,000 13.55 50,600+500
−590 		O2III-If* SIMBAD
CXOGC J174502.8-290859 (in Galactic Center) 1,318,000 -10.56 26,000 13.93 (J band) 33,000 O9I-B0I SIMBAD
BD+54 728 [HXW2022] OC-0715 1,306,000 -10.55 12,300 10.3 19,500 B1Ib SIMBAD
NGC 6822-WR 12 Barnard's Galaxy 1,288,000 -10.535 1,700,000 18.96 100,000 WN4 SIMBAD
Westerhout 49-15 W49 cluster 1 1,288,000+334,000
−265,000 		-10.535 36,200 18.307 (J band) 43,700±1,000 O2-3.5If* SIMBAD
Westerhout 51d G49.5-0.4 1,288,000–2,884,000 -10.535 20,000 15.11 (J band) 42,700 O3V-O4V SIMBAD
WR 18 (in Carina OB1 of Carina Nebula) 1,288,000 -10.535 12,450 10.83 112,200 WN4-s SIMBAD
[BMS2003] 578 B (in NGC 604 of Triangulum Galaxy) 1,285,000 -10.53 2,700,000 15.97 (combined) 32,000 O9Ia SIMBAD
S Doradus NGC 1910 1,259,000 -10.635 169,000 10.25 20,000 B8/9eq-F0/5:Iae SIMBAD
AB7 A NGC 371 1,259,000+326,000
−259,000 		-10.51 197,000 13.016 (combined) 105,000+20,000
−10,000 		WN4 SIMBAD
VFTS 1021 R136 1,259,000+326,000
−259,000 		-10.51 164,000 13.35 35,500±1,500 O4If+ SIMBAD
Arches-F3 Arches Cluster 1,259,000 -10.51 25,000 16.06 (J band) 29,600 WN8-9h SIMBAD
Arches-F8 Arches Cluster 1,259,000 -10.51 25,000 16.31 (J band) 32,900 WN8-9h SIMBAD
HD 50064 (in NGC 2301) 1,259,000 -10.51 9,500 8.21 13,500 B6Ia SIMBAD
HSH95-46 R136 1,259,000+59,000
−162,000 		-10.51 163,000 14.56 47,500+500
−2,500 		O2-3III(f*) SIMBAD
VFTS 1031 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 164,000 13.89 48,000 O3.5 SIMBAD
NGC 2070 MH 980 (in NGC 2070 of LMC) 1,259,000 -10.51 163,000 13.68 42,700 O4V SIMBAD
Sk -69° 194 (in NGC 2033 of LMC) 1,247,000 -10.5 160,000 12.131 (combined) 45,000 B0I SIMBAD
ST2-22 NGC 2044 1,247,000 -10.5 160,000 14.3 51,300 O3V((f)) SIMBAD
HD 269215 (in LMC) 1,247,000 -10.5 163,000 11.94 36,300 O6.5II(f) SIMBAD
Trumpler 27-27 Trumpler 27 1,247,000 -10.5 8,200 13.31 37,200 O8III((f)) SIMBAD
VFTS 1028 R136 1,230,000 -10.485 164,000 13.84 47,300 O3III(f*) or O4-5V SIMBAD
LGGS J013457.51+304833.3 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,202,000 -10.46 2,834,000 14.63 6,761 F3la SIMBAD
LH 10-3601 (in NGC 1763 of LMC) 1,202,000 -10.46 160,000 13.491 55,000 ON2III(f*) SIMBAD
BD+21 4017 1,200,000 -10.46 20,300 10.42 23,000 B0 SIMBAD
AB1 DEM S10 1,175,000 -10.435 197,000 15.238 79,000 WN3ha SIMBAD
BI 253 Runaway from R136 1,175,000+410,000
−304,000 		-10.435 164,000 13.76 54,000±1,500 O2V-III(n)((f*)) SIMBAD
BAT99-92 B Tarantula Nebula 1,175,000 -10.435 164,000 13.76 23,000 B1Ia SIMBAD
LGGS J013248.26+303950.4 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,175,000 -10.435 3,000,000 17.25 23,000 LBV SIMBAD
Mercer 30-8 (WR 46–6 in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,175,000 -10.435 40,000 11.658 (J band) 38,100 WN7 SIMBAD
WR 102d Quintuplet cluster 1,175,000 -10.435 26,000 15.18 (J band) 35,100 WN9h SIMBAD
WR 126 (in Vulpecula OB2) 1,175,000 -10.435 24,680 13.29 63,000 WC5 SIMBAD
R135 A NGC 2070 1,175,000 -10.435 163,000 13.48 (combined) 55,000 WN5 SIMBAD
GCIRS 16SW A (WR 101k A in Galactic Center) 1,149,000 -10.411 26,000 15.5 (J band) 24,400 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
GCIRS 16SW B (WR 101k B in Galactic Center) 1,149,000 -10.411 26,000 15.5 (J band) 23,500 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
CXOGC J174516.7-285824 (WR 101–3 in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 16.67 (J band) 35,000 WN7-8h SIMBAD
G0.121-0.099 (WR 102–16 in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 14.972 (J band) 40,000 WN8-9h SIMBAD
G359.797+0.037 (in Galactic Center) 1,148,000 -10.41 26,000 16.1 (J band) 30,000 B0-2I SIMBAD
HD 93205 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,148,000 -10.41 7,500 7.75 (combined) 51,300 O3.5Vf SIMBAD
WR 158 (in Cassiopeia OB1) 1,148,000 -10.41 16,300 11.282 44,700 WN7h SIMBAD
WR 28 (in FSR 1555) 1,148,000 -10.41 18,700 12.98 50,100 WN6(h)-w SIMBAD
HD 303308 Trumpler 16 1,138,000 -10.4 7,500 8.17 51,300 O3V SIMBAD
M33C-15235 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,138,000 -10.4 3,000,000 17.73 29,200 WN/Of SIMBAD
ZH 364 (in Messier 81) 1,138,000 -10.4 11,842,000 19.59 15,860 LBV?e SIMBAD
HD 269700 (in LMC) 1,127,000 -10.39 163,000 10.54 19,500 B1.5Iaeq SIMBAD
AB9 DEM S80 1,122,000 -10.385 197,000 15.431 100,000 WN3ha SIMBAD
Arches-F18 Arches Cluster 1,122,000 -10.385 25,000 16.7 (J band) 36,900 O4-5Ia+ SIMBAD
Var B (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,122,000 -10.385 3,000,000 16.208 9,000 LBV SIMBAD
VFTS 562 NGC 2070 1,122,000 -10.385 164,000 13.66 42,200 O4V SIMBAD
WR 37 (in SFC 27 of G291.27-0.71) 1,122,000 -10.385 21,900 16 100,000 WN4-s SIMBAD
SK -69 98 (in LMC) 1,096,000 -10.36 163,000 12.29 28,200 OB SIMBAD
VFTS 512 NGC 2070 1,096,000 -10.36 164,000 14.28 47,300 O2V-III((f*)) SIMBAD
Mercer 30-6b (in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,072,000 -10.335 40,000 14.25 (J band) 30,500 O6If SIMBAD
VFTS 3 near NGC 2044 1,072,000+277,000
−220,000 		-10.335 164,000 11.56 21,000±1,000 B1Ia+ SIMBAD
VFTS 151 TLD1 1,072,000 -10.335 164,000 14.13 42,200 O6.5II(f)p SIMBAD
VFTS 603 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,060,000 -10.323 164,000 13.99 43,400 O4III(fc) SIMBAD
HD 268605 (in LMC) 1,057,000 -10.32 163,000 11.34 28,200 O9.5/B0Ia SIMBAD
HD 270145 NGC 2122 1,047,000+101,000
−92,000 		-10.31 163,000 12.17 34,750±1,000 O6.5Ifc SIMBAD
WR 21a B Runaway from Westerlund 2 1,047,000+241,000
−196,000 		-10.31 14,300 12.661 (combined) 48,000 O3V((f*))z SIMBAD
CXOGC J174532.7-285126 (in Galactic Center) 1,047,000 -10.31 26,000 10.72 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD
HD 93403 A Carina OB1 1,047,000+49,000
−47,000 		-10.31 10,000 8.27 (combined) 39,300±1,100 O5.5I SIMBAD
Mercer 30-2 (in Mercer 30 of Dragonfish Nebula) 1,047,000 -10.31 40,000 12.63 (J band) 21,200 B1-4Ia+ SIMBAD
HD 97950 E (in HD 97950 of NGC 3603) 1,038,000 -10.3 24,000 13.081 46,500 O5.5III(f) SIMBAD
HD 229059 Berkeley 87 1,038,000 -10.3 3,200 8.7 26,300 B1Ia SIMBAD
M33C-10788 (in Triangulum Galaxy) 1,038,000 -10.3 3,000,000 17.95 32,000 Ofpe/WN9 SIMBAD
Sk -69° 200 NGC 2033 1,038,000 -10.3 160,000 11.18 26,300 B1I SIMBAD
Sk -69° 259 (in NGC 2081 of LMC) 1,038,000 -10.3 160,000 11.93 30,000 B[e] SIMBAD
WR 77k (in Westerlund 1) 1,038,000 -10.3 11,000 18.86 35,000 WN7 SIMBAD
10182-pr-6 (in NGC 2403) 1,038,000 -10.3 10,314,000 18.79 8,000 A8-F0Ie SIMBAD
[RP2006] 542 (in LMC) 1,028,000 -10.29 163,000 16.75 29,500 B0IV[e] SIMBAD
HD 93250 A (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 1,023,000 -10.285 7,500 7.5 (combined) 46,000 O4 IV(fc) SIMBAD
VFTS 599 NGC 2070 1,023,000+265,000
−210,000 		-10.285 164,000 13.8 47,300+820
−500 		O3III(f*) SIMBAD
VVV CL074-9 (WR 75–29 in VVV CL074) 1,023,000 -10.285 20,000 15.22 (J band) 37,000 WN7/O4-6If+ SIMBAD
WR 156 (in Cepheus OB1) 1,023,000 -10.285 13,400 11.01 39,800 WN8h SIMBAD
ALS 9950 1,021,000 -10.28 9,200 11.26 21,400 B SIMBAD
HD 269050 (in LMC) 1,019,000 -10.28 163,000 11.54 28,200 B0Ia(e?) SIMBAD
BD+13 1440 1,008,000 -10.27 13,500 9.14 30,200 B0e SIMBAD
Melnick 39 B R136 1,000,000+413,000
−292,000 		-10.26 160,000 13.0 (combined) 48,000±2,500 O3If*/WN6-A SIMBAD
VFTS 259 Tarantula Nebula 1,000,000+259,000
−206,000 		-10.26 164,000 13.65 36,800+500
−520 		O6Iaf SIMBAD
HD 97950 A1a HD 97950 1,000,000 -10.26 24,000 11.18 (combined) 37,000 O3If*/WN6 SIMBAD
HD 97950 A1b HD 97950 1,000,000 -10.26 24,000 11.18 (combined) 42,000 O3If*/WN5 SIMBAD
Arches-F14 Arches Cluster 1,000,000 -10.26 25,000 16.38 (J band) 34,500 WN8-9h SIMBAD
BAT99-68 NGC 2044 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.13 45,000 O3If*/WN7 SIMBAD
CXOGC J174628.2-283920 (in Galactic Center) 1,000,000 -10.26 26,000 16.99 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD
CXOGC J174703.1-283119 (in Galactic Center) 1,000,000 -10.26 26,000 16.23 (J band) 40,000 O4-6I SIMBAD
HSH95-28 R136 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.09 48,000 O3V SIMBAD
HSH95-57 R136 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 14.8 47,000 O3III(f) SIMBAD
R140a2 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 163,000 12.12 (combined) 34,000 WC5 SIMBAD
VFTS 591 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 164,000 12.55 27,000 B0.5Ia SIMBAD
VFTS 1034 (in Tarantula Nebula of LMC) 1,000,000 -10.26 164,000 13.36 34,000 O8II SIMBAD
VVV CL074-3 (WR 75–28 in VVV CL074) 1,000,000 -10.26 20,000 14.72 (J band) 31,500 WN8 SIMBAD
ζ1 Scorpii (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 1,000,000 to 1,600,000 -10.085 8,210 4.705 17,000 to 19,000 B1.5Ia+ SIMBAD

A few notable stars of luminosity less than 1 million L☉ are kept here for the purpose of comparison.

Star name Bolo­metric
lumino­sity
(L☉) 		Absolute
bolo­metric
magni­tude 		Approx. distance
from Earth (ly) 		Apparent
visible magni­tude 		Effective Tempe­rature (K) Link Ref.
α Camelopardalis (Runaway star from NGC 1502) 676,000 -9.835 6,000 4.29 29,000 SIMBAD
WR 78 (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 631,000 -9.76 4,100 6.48 50,100 SIMBAD
λ Cephei (Runaway star from Cepheus OB3) 631,000 -9.76 3,100 5.05 36,000 SIMBAD
P Cygni (in IC 4996 of Cygnus OB1) 610,000 -9.723 5,100 4.82 18,700 SIMBAD
WR 79a (in NGC 6231 of Scorpius OB1) 603,000 -9.71 5,600 5.77 35,000 SIMBAD
ζ Puppis (Naos in Vela R2 of Vela Molecular Ridge) 446,700 -10.035 1,080 2.25 40,000 SIMBAD
η Carinae B (in Trumpler 16 of Carina Nebula) 400,000 -9.265 7,500 4.3 (combined) 37,200 SIMBAD
μ Normae (in NGC 6169) 339,000 -9.085 3,260 4.91 28,000 SIMBAD
κ Cassiopeiae (in Cassiopeia OB14) 302,000 -8.96 4,000 4.16 23,500 SIMBAD
τ Canis Majoris Aa (in NGC 2362) 299,000 -8.95 5,120 4.89 32,000 SIMBAD
θ Muscae Ab (in Centaurus OB1) 295,000 -8.935 7,400 5.53 (combined) 33,000 SIMBAD
γ2 Velorum B (in Vela OB2) 280,000 -8.878 1,230 1.83 (combined) 35,000 SIMBAD
ε Orionis (Alnilam in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 271,000 -9.585 2,000 1.69 27,500 SIMBAD
ξ Persei (Menkib in California Nebula of Perseus OB2) 263,000 -8.81 1,200 4.04 35,000 SIMBAD
ζ Orionis Aa (Alnitak in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 250,000 -8.755 1,260 2.08 29,500 SIMBAD
θ Muscae Aa (WR 48 in Centaurus OB1) 234,000 -8.685 7,400 5.53 (combined) 83,000 SIMBAD
ο2 Canis Majoris (in Collinder 121) 219,000 -8.61 2,800 3.043 15,500 SIMBAD
θ1 Orionis C1 (in Trapezium Cluster of Orion complex) 204,000 -8.535 1,340 5.13 (combined) 39,000 SIMBAD
δ Orionis Aa1 (Mintaka in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 191,000 -8.46 1,200 2.5 (combined) 29,500 SIMBAD
γ2 Velorum A (WR 11 in Vela OB2) 170,000 -8.336 1,230 1.83 (combined) 57,000 SIMBAD
η Canis Majoris (Aludra in Collinder 121) 151,000 -8.21 2,000 2.45 15,000 SIMBAD
κ Crucis (in Jewel Box Cluster of Centaurus OB1) 151,000 -8.21 7,500 5.98 16,300 SIMBAD
λ Orionis A (Meissa in Collinder 69 of Orion complex) 150,000 -8.2 1,100 3.54 37,700 SIMBAD
β Orionis A (Rigel in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 120,000 -7.96 860 0.13 12,100 SIMBAD
θ2 Orionis A (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 107,000 -7.833 1,500 5.02 34,900 SIMBAD
Betelgeuse 87,100 -7.61 550 0.50 3,600 SIMBAD
Antares A 75,900 -7.46 550 0.6–1.6 3,660 SIMBAD
ζ Ophiuchi (in Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2) 74,100 -7.435 370 2.569 34,000 SIMBAD
ι Orionis Aa1 (Hatysa in NGC 1980 of Orion complex) 68,000 -7.341 1,340 2.77 (combined) 32,500 SIMBAD
υ Orionis (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 60,000 -7.205 2,900 4.618 33,400 SIMBAD
κ Orionis (Saiph in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 57,000 -7.147 650 2.09 26,500 SIMBAD
σ Cygni (in Cygnus OB4) 52,000 -7.06 3,260 4.233 10,800 SIMBAD
ζ Persei (in Perseus OB2) 47,000 -6.941 750 2.86 20,800 SIMBAD
μ Columbae (Runaway star from Trapezium Cluster) 46,000 -6.91 1,300 5.18 33,000 SIMBAD
σ Orionis Aa (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 41,700 -6.81 1,260 4.07 (combined) 35,000 SIMBAD
δ Scorpii A (Dschubba in Upper Scorpius subgroup of Scorpius OB2) 38,000 -6.71 440 2.307 (combined) 27,400 SIMBAD
ε Persei A (in α Persei Cluster) 28,300 -6.391 640 2.88 (combined) 26,500 SIMBAD
θ Carinae A (in IC 2602 of Scorpius OB2) 25,700 -6.284 460 2.76 (combined) 31,000 SIMBAD
β Canis Majoris (Mirzam in Local Bubble of Scorpius OB2) 25,000 -6.26 490 1.985 23,200 SIMBAD
σ Orionis Ab (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 18,600 -5.934 1,260 4.07 (combined) 29,000 SIMBAD
σ Orionis B (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 15,800 -5.757 1,260 4.07 (combined) 31,000 SIMBAD
θ2 Orionis B (in Orion OB1 of Orion complex) 12,300 -5.485 1,500 6.38 29,300 SIMBAD
γ Orionis (Bellatrix in Bellatrix Cluster of Orion complex) 9,210 -5.17 250 1.64 21,800 SIMBAD
ι Orionis Aa2 (in NGC 1980 of Orion complex) 8,630 -5.1 1,340 2.77 (combined) 27,000 SIMBAD
λ Tauri A (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 5,800 -4.669 480 3.47 (combined) 18,700 SIMBAD
ρ Ophiuchi A (in ρ Ophiuchi cloud complex of Scorpius OB2) 4,000 -4.285 360 4.63 (combined) 22,000 SIMBAD
δ Persei (in α Persei Cluster) 2,860 -3.901 520 3.01 14,900 SIMBAD
α Scorpii B (in Loop I Bubble of Scorpius OB2) 2,820 -3.885 550 5.5 18,500 SIMBAD
α Pavonis Aa (Peacock in Tucana-Horologium association) 2,150 -3.593 180 1.94 17,700 SIMBAD
η Tauri A (Alcyone in Pleiades) 1,820 -3.409 440 2.87 (combined) 12,300 SIMBAD
ο Velorum (in IC 2391 of Scorpius OB2) 1,000 -2.76 490 3.6 16,200 SIMBAD
ψ Persei (in α Persei Cluster) 775 -2.483 580 4.31 16,000 SIMBAD
γ Canis Majoris (Muliphein in Collinder 121) 715 -2.397 440 4.1 13,600 SIMBAD
ο Aquarii (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 340 -1.589 440 4.71 13,500 SIMBAD
φ Eridani (in Tucana-Horologium association) 255 -1.276 150 3.55 13,700 SIMBAD
ν Fornacis (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 245 -1.233 370 4.69 13,400 SIMBAD
ε Chamaeleontis (in ε Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2) 100 -0.26 360 4.91 10,900 SIMBAD
η Chamaeleontis (in η Chamaeleontis moving group of Scorpius OB2) 95 -0.204 310 5.453 12,500 SIMBAD
ε Hydri (in Tucana-Horologium association) 60 0.295 150 4.12 11,000 SIMBAD
τ1 Aquarii (in Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream) 50 0.429 320 5.66 10,600 SIMBAD
β1 Tucanae (in Tucana-Horologium association) 40 0.735 140 4.37 10,600 SIMBAD
Sun (in Solar System) 1 4.739996 0.0000158 -26.744 5,772 IAU

Note that even the most luminous stars are much less luminous than the more luminous persistent extragalactic objects, such as quasars. For example, 3C 273 has an average apparent magnitude of 12.8 (when observing with a telescope), but an absolute magnitude of −26.7. If this object were 10 parsecs away from Earth it would appear nearly as bright in the sky as the Sun (apparent magnitude −26.744). This quasar's luminosity is, therefore, about 2 trillion (1012) times that of the Sun, or about 100 times that of the total light of average large galaxies like our Milky Way. (Note that quasars often vary somewhat in luminosity.)

In terms of gamma rays, a magnetar (type of neutron star) called SGR 1806−20, had an extreme burst reach Earth on 27 December 2004. It was the brightest event known to have impacted this planet from an origin outside the Solar System; if these gamma rays were visible, with an absolute magnitude of approximately −29, it would have been brighter than the Sun[dubious – discuss] (as measured by the Swift spacecraft).

The gamma-ray burst GRB 971214 measured in 1998 was at the time thought to be the most energetic event in the observable universe, with the equivalent energy of several hundred supernovae. Later studies pointed out that the energy was probably the energy of one supernova which had been "beamed" towards Earth by the geometry of a relativistic jet.

  1. M33-013406.63, also called LGGS J013406.63+304147.8, was thought of as a star with over 8 million luminosity in the past, but a new reference indicated that M33-013406.63 may be a binary, the primary will be reduced to about 4.5 million luminosity.
  2. Identified as a binary system, or possibly three stars. But the secondary is almost completely swamped by the primary.
  3. Mercer 23 is an open cluster near Galactic plane.
  4. Mercer 30 is an open cluster in Dragonfish Nebula.
  5. The paper mistakenly lists the bolometric magnitude as -10.5 instead of -11.5.
  6. This is a binary system but the secondary is much less luminous than the primary.
  7. VVV CL041 is an open cluster.
  8. Cl 1813-178 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud complex W33 Complex.
  9. VVV CL074 is an open cluster.
  10. Variable, luminosity was five times higher at outburst in 1994.
  11. Luminous blue variable, peak luminosity shown.
  12. G10.0-0.3 is a radio nebula in Galactic Center.
  13. Mercer 81 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud G338.4+0.2.
  14. DBSB 179 is an open cluster in the molecular cloud G347.6+0.2.
  15. Bochum 10 is an open cluster in Carina Nebula.
  16. Blue Bubble Nebula is a Wolf–Rayet nebula around Hen 3-519.
  17. Strictly speaking, MSX5C G358.5391+00.1305 is the name of the star, Wray 17-96 is the name of the nebula.
  18. N135 is an emission nebula in Large Magellanic Cloud.
  19. DEM S10 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  20. FSR 1555 is a star cluster.
  21. DEM S80 is a H II region in Small Magellanic Cloud.
  22. SFC 27 is a part of the molecular cloud G291.27-0.71.
  23. IC 4996 is an open cluster in Cygnus OB1.
  24. Vela R2 is a OB association in Vela Molecular Ridge.

Luminous star by galaxy

Galaxy Star Distance (ly) Spectral type Absolute Magnitude Apparent Magnitude Notes
Milky Way G0.238-0.071 26,000 WN11h -12.01 14.37 One of the most luminous star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Large Magellanic Cloud BAT99-98 165,000 WN6 -12.01 13.38
Small Magellanic Cloud HD 5980 A 200,000 WN4 -11.135 11.31
Andromeda Galaxy LGGS J004158.87+405316.7 2,500,000 O9.5Ia -12 18.416 Likely to be multiple stars
Triangulum Galaxy [BMS2003] 867 A 2,700,000 O4Iab -12 16.29
Sextans A Sextans A 408 4,658,000 G2la -11.4 13.46
NGC 2403 NGC 2403 V14 10,314,000 F5Ie -11.6 18.83
NGC 2366 NGC 2363-V1 10,800,000 LBV −10.25 17.88
Messier 81 10584-9-1 11,842,000 sgB[e] -11.0 19.1
NGC 4068 Object #A 14,220,000 WN -10.7 21.145
NGC 1156 J025941.21+251412.2 23,000,000 LBV -10.77

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