01 / 09 · Sirius
Looks pretty normal for now. From here on out, the Sun only gets smaller…
02 / 09 · Pollux
Pollux is almost nine times wider than the Sun, so the Sun has to shrink to keep it on screen.
03 / 09 · Aldebaran
Aldebaran is the fiery eye of Taurus the bull. In the Sun's place, it would fill half of Mercury's orbit.
04 / 09 · Rigel
Rigel is over 70 times wider than the Sun, and shines around 120,000 times brighter.
05 / 09 · Deneb
In the Sun's place, Deneb would swallow Mercury's orbit.
06 / 09 · Mu Cephei
In the Sun's place, Mu Cephei would reach past Mars and out beyond the asteroid belt.
07 / 09 · UY Scuti
UY Scuti was once called the biggest star in the known universe. In the Sun's place, it would reach most of the way to Jupiter.
08 / 09 · VY Canis Majoris
In the Sun's place, VY Canis Majoris would swallow Jupiter's orbit.
09 / 09 · Stephenson 2-18
Stephenson 2-18 may be the biggest star known. Swap it in for the Sun and its surface would almost reach Saturn.
- Wider than the Sun
- 1.71×
- Light-years away
- 8.6
- Constellation
- Canis Major
The brightest star in our night sky, mostly because it's one of our closest neighbors.
- Wider than the Sun
- 8.97×
- Light-years away
- 34
- Constellation
- Gemini
The brightest star in Gemini, and the closest giant star to us.
- Wider than the Sun
- 45.1×
- Light-years away
- 67
- Constellation
- Taurus
Pioneer 10 is drifting in its general direction and should make its closest pass in about two million years.
- Wider than the Sun
- 74.1×
- Light-years away
- 850
- Constellation
- Orion
It marks one of Orion's feet and is usually the seventh brightest star in our night sky.
- Wider than the Sun
- ~117×
- Light-years away
- ~1,400
- Constellation
- Cygnus
Nobody agrees on how far away it is. Estimates vary from ~1,400 to 2,600 light-years, greatly affecting its approximate size.
- Wider than the Sun
- ~762×
- Light-years away
- ~1,370
- Constellation
- Cepheus
William Herschel called it the Garnet Star for its deep red color.
- Wider than the Sun
- ~909×
- Light-years away
- 5,900
- Constellation
- Scutum
Better distance measurements have since shrunk it by almost half, from about 1,700 times the Sun's width to about 909.
- Wider than the Sun
- ~1,420×
- Light-years away
- 3,800
- Constellation
- Canis Major
It's shedding its outer layers so fast that it's wrapped in a vast cloud of its own dust and gas.
- Wider than the Sun
- ~1,840×
- Light-years away
- ~19,000
- Constellation
- Scutum
While it's the largest star known today, more accurate measurements or new discoveries may one day strip it of its title as king.