Object Analysis

Westerlund 1-26 is a red hypergiant star located in the massive super star cluster Westerlund 1, in the constellation Ara. It is one of the most luminous and largest known stars, with a radius estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 times that of the Sun.

The star is so large that it pushes the theoretical limits of stellar physics. It is surrounded by a massive, ionized nebula of material it has shed through its powerful stellar winds. Because it is located in a very dense cluster, its radiation and winds significantly affect the evolution of the neighboring stars.

Westerlund 1-26 is destined to become a supernova in the near astronomical future. Its life and death will provide vital clues about how the most massive stars in the galaxy evolve and how they enrich the interstellar medium with the heavy elements necessary for planet formation.