Reply #11: The Biggest Stars: The A-List [View All]

[Dogmudgeon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_known_stars">List of the largest known stars at Wikipedia

When I was a kid (in the 1960s), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsilon_Aurigae">Epsilon Aurigae held the title for being the largest star, a big, cool, M5+ star. These days, it's under renewed scrutiny for being an F0 giant with an orbiting dust cloud!

Incidentally, Betelgeuse has been shrinking (~15% since 1990), and may be in a pre-supernova collapse -- in which case, an explosion is likely within a few decades (though not guaranteed). When it does explode, it will be at least as bright as a quarter moon.

--d!