This is a list of luminous blue variable stars in order of their distance from Earth. [1] [2] [3]
Star system | Nebula | Median distance (ly) | Stars in system | Spectral type | Apparent magnitude (V) | Comments and references |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P Cygni (34 Cygni) | 5251±180 | 1 | B1-2 Ia-0ep | 4.82 | The closest luminous blue variable star to Earth | |
V4029 Sagittarii (HD 168607) | 6,000 | 1 | B9Ia+ | 8.12 to 8.29 | [4] [5] near the Omega Nebula | |
V905 Scorpii (HD 160529) | 6,100 | 1 | LBV | 6.66 | [4] [5] | |
Eta Carinae (Eta Argus) | ![]() | 7,500 | 2 | O + B | −1.0 to ~7.6 | part of Trumpler 16 in the Carina Nebula |
MWC 930 (V446 Scuti) | ![]() | 11,400 | 1 | B5/9Iaeq | 11.51 | [4] |
WRAY 16-137 | 12,400 | 1 | LBV | 15.5 | [6] [5] | |
W1-243 | 15,000 | 1 | LBV | 15.81 | [4] in Westerlund 1 | |
HR Carinae | ![]() | 16,000 | 2 | LBV+RSG | 8.42 | [4] [5] |
V481 Scuti (LBV G24.73+0.69) | ![]() | 17,000 | 1 | LBV_B[e]: | [4] | |
AG Carinae | ![]() | 17,000 ± 1,000 | 1 | B | 6.96 | |
EM* VRMF 55 (MN44) | ![]() | 18,000 or 35,000 | 1 | LBV | 15 | [6] [7] |
[GKF2010] MN48 | ![]() | 20,000 | 1 | 15.83 | [4] [5] | |
GCIRS 34W (WR 101db) | 25,000 | 1 | Ofpe/WN9 | [6] [8] in the galactic center | ||
Pistol Star (V4647 Sgr) | ![]() | 25,114 | 1 | B | >28 | part of the Quintuplet cluster |
LBV G0.120-0.048 (V4998 Sgr) | ![]() | 26,000 | 1 | WN5b | [6] near the Quintuplet cluster | |
FMM 362 (V4650 Sgr) | 26,000 | 1 | LBV | [6] near the Quintuplet cluster | ||
AFGL 2298 (V1672 Aql) | 30,000 | 1 | B8I | [6] | ||
V432 Carinae (Wray 15-751) | ![]() | 33,000 | 1 | LBV | 10.20 | Also known as AT 2019ooa [4] [5] |
[GKM2012] WS1 | ![]() | 39,000 | 1 | LBV | 15.31 | [4] [5] |
[GKF2010] MN58 | ![]() | 1 | [6] | |||
Star system | Nebula | Median distance (ly) | Stars in system | Spectral type | Apparent magnitude (V) | Comments and references |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HD 148937 | ![]() | 3,870 | 1 | O6f?p | 6.71 | [6] central star of NGC 6164 |
MWC 349A (V1478 Cygni) | ![]() | 4,560 | 2–3 | B0-1.5 I + B0 III | 13.15 | [6] maybe ejected from Cygnus OB2 |
HD 326823 | 4,700 | 1 | WNpec | 9.03 | [4] [5] | |
HD 168625 | ![]() | 5,000 | 1 | B6Ia+ | 8.30–8.41 | [4] [5] near the Omega Nebula |
Cygnus OB2-12 | 5,500 | 1 | B3–4 Ia+ | 11.702 | [4] [5] in Cygnus OB2 | |
AS 314 | 5,600 | 1 | B9Ia | 9.85 | [6] | |
Zeta1 Scorpii | 5,600 | 1 | B1.5 Iae | 4.705 | [4] [5] | |
G79.29+0.46 | ![]() | 5,700 | 1 | B:I[e] | 15.1 | [4] [5] in Cygnus X |
WRAY 16-232 | ![]() | 6,850 | 1 | Be | 12.5 | [6] [5] |
HD 80077 | 8,700 | 1 | B2.5Ia+ | 9.00 | [4] [5] | |
HD 316285 | ![]() | 10,800 | 1 | B0Ieq | 9.60 | [4] [5] |
MWC 314 (V1429 Aquilae) | 15,000 | 3 | B3Ibe | 9.79 - 10.1 | [4] [5] | |
[SBW2007] 1 | ![]() | 18,500 | 1 | B1Iab | 12.7 | [4] [5] |
Sher 25 | ![]() | 21,000 | 1 | cLBV | 12.23 | [4] [5] in NGC 3603 |
W51 LS1 (V1936 Aquilae) | ![]() | 22,000 | 1 | O4I | 15.1 | [4] [5] |
WRAY 17-96 | ![]() | 22,000 | 1 | cLBV | ~13.0 | [4] [5] |
[B61] 2 | ![]() | 22,000 | 1 | LBV_B[e]: | 15.00 | [6] [5] |
WR 102ka | 26,000 | 1 | WN10 | [6] near the galactic center | ||
GCIRS 16SW | 27,000 | 1 | Ofpe/WN9 | [6] in the galactic center | ||
LBV 1806−20 | 28,000 | 1 | cLBV | [6] part of the 1806−20 cluster | ||
Hen 3-519 | ![]() | 28,000 | 1 | WN11h | 10.85 | [4] [5] |
MSX6C G026.4700+00.0207 | ![]() | 30,000 | 1 | LBV_B | [6] [9] |
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is around 163 kly distant and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is around 204 kly distant
Host galaxy | Star system | Stars in system | Spectral type | Apparent magnitude (V) | Comments and references |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LMC | S Doradus | 1 | B8/9eq – F0/5:Iae | 8.6 – 11.5 | |
LMC | HD 269858 (R127) | 1 | B | 10.15 | |
LMC | HD 269006 (R71) | 1 | LBV | 10.55 | [6] |
LMC | HD 269216 (SK −69 75) | 1 | OBe | 11.123 | [6] |
LMC | HD 269582 (SK −69 142a) | 1 | WN10h | 11.093 | [6] |
LMC | HD 269662 (R110) | 1 | A0Ia | 10.28 | [6] |
LMC | HD 269700 (R116) | 1 | B1.5Iaeq | 10.54 | [6] |
LMC | R143 (CPD-69 463) | 1 | F7Ia | 12.014 | [6] |
SMC | HD 5980 (R14) | 3 | WN4+O7I: | 11.31 | [6] |
SMC | HD 6884 (R40) | 1 | B9Ia0ek | 10.2 | [6] |
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is 2.5 Mly distant and the Triangulum Galaxy is around 3.2 Mly distant
Host galaxy | Star system | Stars in system | Spectral type | Apparent magnitude (V) | Comments and references |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andromeda | LGGS J004051.59+403303.0 | 1 | LBV | 16.989 | [6] |
Andromeda | AE Andromedae (HV 4476) | 1 | LBV | 17.0–17.9 | [6] |
Andromeda | AF Andromedae (HV 4013) | 1 | LBV | 17.325 | [6] |
Andromeda | Var 15 ([WB92a] 370) | 1 | LBV | 18.450 | [6] |
Andromeda | Var A-1 | 1 | LBV | 17.143 | [6] |
Andromeda | UCAC4 660-003111 | 1 | LBV | 16.39 | [6] |
Triangulum | Var C | 1 | LBV | 16.429 | [6] |
Triangulum | Var B | 1 | LBV | 16.208 | [6] |
Triangulum | Var 83 | 1 | LBV | 15.4–16.6 | [6] |
Triangulum | Var 2 (Y Trianguli) | 1 | Ofpe/WN9 | 18.22 | [6] |
Triangulum | Romano’s Star (M33 V0532) | 1 | Ofpe/WN9 | 16.5–18.8 | [6] |
Host Galaxy | Star system | Median distance (ly) | Stars in system | Spectral type | Apparent magnitude (V) | Comments and references |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NGC 3109 | AT 2018akx | 4,350,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.5 - 19.28 | [10] |
NGC 2403 | AT 2016ccd | 9,650,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.0 - 19.95 | Also known as SNhunt225. [11] [12] |
NGC 4214 | SN 2010U | 9,700,000 | 1 | LBV | 16 | [13] |
NGC 2363 | NGC 2363-V1 | 10,800,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.88 | One of the most luminous stars known. |
NGC 45 | AT 2018htr | 21,700,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.469 | [14] |
NGC 2537 | AT 2017be | 27,900,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.349 - 18.5 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [15] |
NGC 4559 | AT 2016blu | 29,000,000 | 1 | LBV | 15.9 – 19 | Repeated outbursts have been observed since January 2012. [16] [17] |
NGC 7286 | AT 2019mil | 32,400,000 | 1 | LBV | 19 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [18] |
UGC 5829 | AT 2021blu | 43,500,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.17 - 21.62 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [19] |
NGC 4656 | Variable in NGC 4656 | 43,700,000 | 1 | LBV | 18 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [20] |
NGC 4389 | AT 2022fnm | 44,700,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.495 - 17.855 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [21] |
ESO 249- G 015 | AT 2020agp | 47,500,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.463 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [22] |
NGC 908 | AT 2021ablz | 56,000,000 | 1 | LBV | 20.58 | [23] |
UGC 5979 | SN 2007sv | 58,270,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.4 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [24] [25] |
IC 5267A | AT 2019oet | 60,000,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.335 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [26] |
NGC 2748 | PSN J09132750+7627410 | 61,300,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.3 | [27] |
NGC 3423 | AT 2019ahd | 65,600,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.83 - 18.73 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [28] |
NGC 1385 | AT 2020pju | 66,400,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.3 - 19.73 | [29] |
NGC 718 | AT 2019udc | 69,800,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.53 - 19.09 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [30] |
NGC 5334 | SN 2003gm | 80,196,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.0 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [31] |
SDSS J094838.45+332529.1 | AT 2020jev | 80,200,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.74 - 20.33 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [32] |
NGC 6509 | PSN J17592296+0617267 | 95,300,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.5 | [33] |
NGC 4045 | AT 2019wbg | 111,500,000 | 1 | LBV | 17.7 -19.39 | Repeated outbursts observed since discovery. Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [34] |
NGC 4532 | AT 2017des | 112,800,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.817 - 19.85 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [35] [36] |
ESO 602- G 015 | AT 2022rmk | 113,200,000 | 1 | LBV | 19.472 - 20.04 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [37] |
UGC 9113 | AT 2017dau | 162,100,000 | 1 | LBV | 19.32 - 21.32 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [38] |
MCG +07-07-070 | AT 2018kle | 180,200,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.797 - 18.91 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [39] |
UGC 449 | AT 2022oku | 239,100,000 | 1 | LBV | 18.781 - 19.49 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [40] |
WISEA J010803.49+010843.7 | AT 2020zmn | 262,600,000 | 1 | LBV | 20.31 - 20.85 | Distance from NED using redshift of host galaxy. [41] |
NGC 3184, the Little Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Its name comes from its resemblance to the Pinwheel Galaxy. It was discovered on 18 March 1787 by German-British astronomer William Herschel. It has two HII regions named NGC 3180 and NGC 3181.
HD 6434 is a star in the southern constellation of Phoenix. Yellow dwarfs such as this are not very luminous, so at a distance of 138 light years it is not visible to the unaided eye. However, with binoculars it is readily visible under ideal observing conditions, having an apparent visual magnitude of 7.71. The star is drifting further from the Sun with a radial velocity of +23 km/s.
HD 102195 is an orange-hued star in the zodiac constellation of Virgo with a confirmed exoplanet companion. With an apparent visual magnitude of 8.07, the star is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. The distance to HD 102195 can be estimated from its annual parallax shift of 34.06 mas, yielding 95.8 light years. It is moving further away from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of 1.85 km/s. This is a high proper motion star and a possible member of the η Cha stellar kinematic group.
NGC 2442 and NGC 2443 are two parts of a single intermediate spiral galaxy, commonly known as the Meathook Galaxy or the Cobra and Mouse. It is about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Volans. It was discovered by Sir John Herschel on December 23, 1834 during his survey of southern skies with a 18.25 inch diameter reflecting telescope from an observatory he set up in Cape Town, South Africa. Associated with this galaxy is HIPASS J0731-69, a cloud of gas devoid of any stars. It is likely that the cloud was torn loose from NGC 2442 by a companion.
NGC 1566, sometimes known as the Spanish Dancer, is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Dorado, positioned about 3.5° to the south of the star Gamma Doradus. It was discovered on May 28, 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop. At 10th magnitude, it requires a telescope to view. The distance to this galaxy remains elusive, with measurements ranging from 6 Mpc up to 21 Mpc.
NGC 4639 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. It was discovered by German-born astronomer William Herschel on 12 April 1784. John L. E. Dreyer described it as "pretty bright, small, extended, mottled but not resolved, 12th magnitude star 1 arcmin to southeast". This is a relatively nearby galaxy, lying approximately 72 million light-years away from the Milky Way. It is a companion to NGC 4654, and the two appear to have interacted roughly 500 million years ago. NGC 4639 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
NGC 2770 is a spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Lynx, near the northern constellation border with Cancer. It was discovered by German-born astronomer William Herschel on December 7, 1785. J. L. E. Dreyer described it as, "faint, large, much extended 150°, mottled but not resolved, 2 stars to north". NGC 2770 was the target for the first binocular image produced by the Large Binocular Telescope.
NGC 45 is a low surface brightness spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Cetus. It was discovered on 11 November 1835 by the English astronomer John Herschel. The galaxy is located at a distance of 22 million light years and is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 466 km/s. It is located in the vicinity of the Sculptor Group, but is most likely a background galaxy.
V1429 Aquilae is a candidate luminous blue variable multiple star system located in the constellation of Aquila. It is often referred to by its Mount Wilson Observatory catalog number as MWC 314. It is a hot luminous star with strong emission lines in its spectrum.
AS 314, also known as V452 Scuti, is a protoplanetary nebula once believed to be a white hypergiant star or luminous blue variable located in the constellation of Scutum. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.85 and can be seen with small telescopes.
HDE 316285 is a blue supergiant star in the constellation Sagittarius. It is a candidate luminous blue variable and lies about 6,000 light years away in the direction of the Galactic Center.
WR 31a, commonly referred to as Hen 3-519, is a Wolf–Rayet (WR) star in the southern constellation of Carina that is surrounded by an expanding Wolf–Rayet nebula. It is not a classical old stripped-envelope WR star, but a young massive star which still has some hydrogen left in its atmosphere.
WR 21a is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Carina. It includes one of the most massive known stars and is one of the most massive binaries.
NGC 3972 is a spiral galaxy located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major. It was discovered by William Herschel on April 14, 1789. This galaxy is located 66 million light years away and is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 846 km/s. It is a member of the NGC 3992 Group of galaxies.
NGC 1325 is a flocculent spiral galaxy situated in the constellation of Eridanus. Located about 75 million light years away, it is a member of the Eridanus cluster of galaxies, a cluster of about 200 galaxies. It was discovered by William Herschel on 19 December 1799.
V1936 Aquilae is a blue supergiant and candidate Luminous blue variable located in the nebula Westerhout 51, in the constellation Aquila, about 20,000 light years away. The star was originally identified as a massive star in 2000, and was thought to be an O-type supergiant. However, subsequent analyses have shown it to be not O but B-type, as well as being possibly an LBV. The star was shown to be a variable star by Luboš Kohoutek and R. Wehmeyer in 2004.
V4332 Sagittarii is a nova-like event in the constellation of Sagittarius. It was discovered on February 24, 1994 at an apparent visual magnitude of 8.9 by Japanese amateur astronomer Minoru Yamamoto from Okazaki, Aichi, then confirmed by K. Hirosawa. Initially designated Nova Sagittarii 1994 #1, it was given the variable star designation V4332 Sgr. A spectra of the event taken on March 4 lacked the characteristic features of a classical nova, with the only emission lines being of the Balmer series. Subsequent spectra showed a rapid decline in luminosity and a change of spectral type over a period of five days. By 2003, the object was ~1500 times less luminous than at peak magnitude and showed a spectrum of an M-type star.
GG Carinae is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Carina, abbreviated GG Car. It is a variable star with a brightness that fluctuates around an apparent visual magnitude of 8.67, making it too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The distance to this system is approximately 8,000 light years based on parallax measurements.