Stephenson 2-18 vs. the Sun: over 2,000 times wider than the Sun.

 

Stephenson 2-18 vs. the Sun: A Star Beyond Imagination

everything you thought you knew about scale.

On one side: our Sun, a powerful star about 1.4 million km wide. On the other: Stephenson 2-18, a red supergiant so massive it makes the Sun look like a glowing dot.

Discovered in the Stephenson 2 open cluster, this stellar giant is estimated to be over 2,000 times wider than the Sun. If placed at the center of our solar system, its outer edge would swallow Saturn's orbit. Even light would take over 8 hours to travel across its surface.

Stephenson 2-18 pushes the boundaries of stellar physics. It forces scientists to reconsider how such massive stars evolve, and whether they explode as supernovae or collapse straight into black holes.

While our Sun burns hydrogen steadily for billions of years, Stephenson 2-18 is racing toward its explosive end, fusing heavier elements in a highly unstable phase. A cosmic finale is inevitable.

This comparison reveals just how extreme our universe can be — from small, steady stars to titanic celestial beasts like Stephenson 2-18.

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