Changes

In 1976, it was discovered that the star was located at the edge of a large molecular cloud. VY Canis Majoris itself was at the tip of the rim of the cloud and as they both share the same [[velocity]], the star then may be associated with the cloud.<ref>Lada, Charles J.; Reid, Mark J. (January 1, 1978). "CO observations of a molecular cloud complex associated with the bright rim near VY Canis Majoris". The Astrophysical Journal (American Astronomical Society) 219: 95-104.</ref> Further measurements of the cloud in 2007 revealed it was prolific at creating compound molecules such as [[cyanide|hydrogen cyanide]] (HCN), silicon monoxide (SiO), [[sodium chloride]] (NaCl) and phosphorus nitride (PN). The phosphorous molecules are the most interesting to astronomers, as phosphorous is relatively rare in the universe but an essential ingredient to life, as it is part of [[DNA]] and [[RNA]], as well as [[ATP]], an energy storing molecule.<ref>[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/V/VY_Canis_Majoris.html VY Canis Majoris] from daviddarling.info</ref>

In 1976, it was discovered that the star was located at the edge of a large molecular cloud. VY Canis Majoris itself was at the tip of the rim of the cloud and as they both share the same [[velocity]], the star then may be associated with the cloud.<ref>Lada, Charles J.; Reid, Mark J. (January 1, 1978). "CO observations of a molecular cloud complex associated with the bright rim near VY Canis Majoris". The Astrophysical Journal (American Astronomical Society) 219: 95-104.</ref> Further measurements of the cloud in 2007 revealed it was prolific at creating compound molecules such as [[cyanide|hydrogen cyanide]] (HCN), silicon monoxide (SiO), [[sodium chloride]] (NaCl) and phosphorus nitride (PN). The phosphorous molecules are the most interesting to astronomers, as phosphorous is relatively rare in the universe but an essential ingredient to life, as it is part of [[DNA]] and [[RNA]], as well as [[ATP]], an energy storing molecule.<ref>[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/V/VY_Canis_Majoris.html VY Canis Majoris] from daviddarling.info</ref>

The star is classified as M3-m5e-la making it a red [[Supergiant#Hypergiants|hypergiant]].  The star is estimated to be 500,000 times the luminosity of our [[Sun]], with a surface temperature of 3,490 k.<ref name=constellation-guide/> It is estimated to be some 1,800 times to 2,100 times the size of the sun in radius.<ref>[https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph?papernum=0610433 arXiv:astro-ph/0610433]</ref> More recent estimates are more conservative at 1,400 solar radii.<ref name=constellation-guide/> If VY Canis Majoris was our star, it would extend to the orbit of [[Saturn]]. In fact VY Canis Majoris is so large, a beam of light would take 8 hours to circumnavigate the star. Like all [[Supergiant#Hypergiants|hypergiants]], it has a very low [[density]] and is only some 30 to 40 times the Sun’s mass.

The star is classified as M3-m5e-la making it a red [[Supergiant#Hypergiants|hypergiant]].  The star is estimated to be 500,000 times the luminosity of our [[Sun]], with a surface temperature of 3,490 k.<ref name=constellation-guide/> It is estimated to be some 1,800 times to 2,100 times the size of the sun in radius.<ref>[https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph?papernum=0610433 arXiv:astro-ph/0610433]</ref> More recent estimates are more conservative at 1,400 solar radii.<ref name=constellation-guide/> If VY Canis Majoris was our star, it would extend to the orbit of [[Saturn]]. In fact VY Canis Majoris is so large, a beam of light would take 8 hours to circumnavigate the star. Like all [[Supergiant#Hypergiants|hypergiants]], it has a very low [[density]] and is only some 30 to 40 times the Sun's mass.

VY Canis Majoris is not without controversy.  Some scientists argue that the star is not as large as thought, but instead is a red [[supergiant]] that is some 600 times the radius of the Sun’s.<ref>Massey, P., Levesque, E. and Plez, B. (2006). Bringing VY Canis Majoris Down to Size: An Improved Determination of Its Effective Temperature. ''The Astrophysical Journal'', 646(2), pp.1203-1208. [https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph?papernum=0604253 arXiv:astro-ph/0604253]</ref>

VY Canis Majoris is not without controversy.  Some scientists argue that the star is not as large as thought, but instead is a red [[supergiant]] that is some 600 times the radius of the Sun's.<ref>Massey, P., Levesque, E. and Plez, B. (2006). Bringing VY Canis Majoris Down to Size: An Improved Determination of Its Effective Temperature. ''The Astrophysical Journal'', 646(2), pp.1203-1208. [https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph?papernum=0604253 arXiv:astro-ph/0604253]</ref>

==References==

==References==