Object Analysis

The Pistol Star is a blue hypergiant star located in the Quintuplet Cluster in the Galactic Center region of the Milky Way. It is one of the most luminous stars known, shining about 1.6 million times brighter than the Sun. It is located approximately 25,000 light-years away.

The star is named after the Pistol Nebula, which it illuminates. The nebula was created by huge eruptions from the star, which shed up to 10 solar masses of material in giant outbursts roughly 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. The stellar wind is so strong it shapes the surrounding gas into the form of a pistol.

The Pistol Star is so massive (roughly 27 solar masses currently, but initially over 100) that it is near the Eddington limit, the point where the outward pressure of radiation overcomes gravity. It is expected to end its life in a spectacular supernova or hypernova within the next 1 to 3 million years.