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The European Southern Observatory has found a very large star and it is now one of the ten largest stars known. This yellow giant measures nearly 1,300 times the diameter of the Sun, and even more interesting is that it is part of dual star system with the second star actually in contact with this star named HR 5171.
HR 5171 is a million times brighter than our Sun, and 50 percent larger than the Betelgeuse, a red supergiant that can be seen from Earth. Yellow hypergiants are extremely rare and are at a stage of their star life that is rapidly changing and highly unstable, especially their temperature fueled by nuclear fusion. This instability also causes an expelling of material thus forming a thick extended atmosphere.
HR5171 is roughly 12,000 light-years from Earth, and its companion is significantly smaller and cooler than its big brother. This companion is being watched closely as well for it can have a say in the fate of HR5171 by potentially stripping off its outer layers and altering its evolution.
thomasbwalden 