VY Canis Majoris (also known as HD 58061 in the Henry Draper catalog) is an extreme red hypergiant star in the constellation Canis Major. It is one of the largest known stars, with a shocking radius of 1,420 times that of the Sun. VY Canis Majoris has been jokingly called “Betelgeuse on Steroids.” It was discovered in 1801 by astronomer Jerome Lalande. NML Cygni, a similar red hypergiant star, has been compared to VY Canis Majoris.
Astronomical data
Radius (in Solar Radii): 1,420 R☉
Diameter (in Kilometers): 1,976,640,000 km
Mass (in Solar Masses): 17 M☉
Distance (in Light Years): 3,820 ly
Spectral type: M3 (Red)