What is the heaviest star ever discovered? Can a star be heavier than a black hole?

 Weighing in at roughly 200 times the mass of our Sun, R136a1 isn't just the heaviest star ever discovered—it actually outweighs most black holes in our galaxy.

Located about 160,000 light-years away in a densely packed star cluster within the Large Magellanic Cloud, this colossal object pushes the limits of how large a star can physically grow. While current astronomical models place its mass between 170 and 233 solar masses, it was likely closer to 300 solar masses when it first ignited.

Massive stars like R136a1 live violently and briefly. They burn through their nuclear fuel at a furious rate, shining millions of times brighter than the Sun. The sheer physical scale of R136a1 makes even large main-sequence stars look insignificant by comparison.

A size comparison between a small red dwarf, the Sun, a larger B-type main sequence star, and the massive R136a1. Photo by ESO/M. Kornmesser is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This immense bulk is exactly why it is heavier than a typical black hole. Black holes are not universally massive; their weight depends entirely on how they formed. When a dying star collapses, it leaves behind a stellar-mass black hole that typically ranges from just 5 to 100 solar masses, well below R136a1's current weight.

However, a star cannot compete with the universe's true heavyweights. Intermediate-mass black holes scale from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of solar masses, and supermassive black holes weigh millions or billions of times more than our Sun. When R136a1 eventually exhausts its fuel in a few million years, it will likely collapse directly into a black hole itself, leaving behind a remnant that weighs only a fraction of its current record-breaking mass.

The core of the Tarantula Nebula, showing the dense R136 star cluster where R136a1 is located. Photo by International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

How big was the biggest known star compared to the sun?

 If placed in our solar system, the largest recorded star would swallow Saturn. It could hold nearly 10 billion Suns—a scale astrophysicists argue is physically impossible.

Because of this uncertainty, the crown for the "biggest known star" frequently changes hands. Measuring the exact boundaries of a red supergiant is notoriously difficult. These stars are shrouded in thick shells of dust and their outer envelopes constantly pulsate, making it hard to agree on where the star ends and space begins.

Currently, three major contenders define the debate:

The Former Champion: UY Scuti
For years, UY Scuti was the undisputed king of stars. It was estimated to have a radius 1,708 times that of the Sun, giving it roughly 5 billion times the solar volume. However, recent parallax measurements from the Gaia space observatory slashed this estimate in half. Better data showed the star was much closer to Earth than previously thought, dropping its estimated size to between 755 and 909 solar radii. It remains a behemoth, but it is no longer the record-holder.

The Pop Culture Record-Holder: Stephenson 2-18
Search for the largest star today, and you will likely find Stephenson 2-18. It holds the largest cited size estimate at roughly 2,150 solar radii, creating the impossible 10-billion-Sun scale. However, this measurement is highly disputed among astrophysicists. The 2,150-radii figure breaks the theoretical maximum limit of how big a red supergiant can physically get before it sheds its outer layers. Many astronomers believe the estimate relies on faulty assumptions about the star's distance and luminosity.

The Current Scientific Consensus: WOH G64
This is the star most astrophysicists point to today as the most scientifically defensible candidate. Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, WOH G64 has a well-characterized estimate of about 1,540 solar radii, which translates to roughly 3.65 billion times the volume of the Sun. If WOH G64 replaced our Sun, its surface would swallow everything up to the orbit of Jupiter. The measurement holds up better to scrutiny than Stephenson 2-18, though it still comes with the inherent uncertainty of measuring a pulsating, dust-shrouded star in a neighboring galaxy.

WOH G64, the current scientific consensus for the largest known star, shown at scale next to the Sun. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

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Who was the bigger star in the era of Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra and Dharmendra?

 All these actors except Dharmendra and Amitabh had phases of highs and lows. So it is difficult to make a comprehensive list of their stardom. Figures don't convey the extent of popularity often. But still we will try.

Number of HGOTY-

Dharmendra - 4 (Phool aur Patthar, Aankhein, Sholay, Hukumat)

Amitabh- 6 (Roti Kapda aur Makaan, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Suhaag, Coolie)

Vinod Khanna- 3 (Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Qurbani)

Shashi Kapoor- 3 (Waqt, Suhaag, Kranti)

Rajesh Khanna - 2 (Aradhana, Haathi mere Saathi)

Jeetendra - 1 (Tohfa)

Blockbuster Hits

Dharmendra - 9 ( Phool aur Patthar, Aankhein, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Seeta aur Geeta, Jugnu, Yaadon ki Baraat, Sholay, Pratigya, Dharam Veer)

Amitabh Bachchan - 14 (Zanjeer, Roti Kapda aur Makan, Sholay, Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Lawaris, Naseeb, Namak Halal, Coolie, Andha Kanoon, Mard, Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi kabhi Gam)

Vinod Khanna- 5 (Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Qurbani, Chandni)

Shashi Kapoor- 7 (Waqt, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Chor Machaye Shor, Roti Kapda aur Makaan, Deewar, Kranti, Namak Halaal)

Rajesh Khanna - 4 (Aradhana, Do Raaste, Haathi Mere Saathi, Avtaar)

Jeetendra - 7 (Farz, Bidaai, Dharam Veer, Aasha, Meri Aawaz Suno, Himmatwala, Swarg se Sundar)

Top Star Ranking-

Dharmendra - Number 1 star between 1972–75, Number 2 between 1968–71 and 1976–82, Number 3 star between 1983–84 and 1987

Amitabh Bachchan - Number 2 star in 1975, Number 1 star between 1976–91

Vinod Khanna- Number 3 star between 1977–79

Shashi Kapoor- Never in top 3

Rajesh Khanna - Number 1 star between 1969–71, Number 2 star between 1972–74

Jeetendra - Number 3 between 1980–82 and 85–86, Number 2 between 83–84

Note: There are two actors who were among the top actors during this time not mentioned in the list , Mithun and Manoj Kumar. Both were bigger stars than Shashi Kapoor. Manoj Kumar till 1981 was untouchable with consecutive blockbuster hits and HGOTY and Mithun between 1985–89.

In total, Amitabh Bachchan was the biggest star of the period. Dharmendra was consistently number 2. Rajesh Khanna had a phenomenal period between 1969–71 and then his career peaked between 1973–74, and had a brief revival in 1983–84 but was never consistent. Vinod Khanna was on the way to become one of the top Stars but he left it all to go to Osho ashram. His comeback was good initially but then he whimpered away. Shashi Kapoor was the weakest in comparison with very few prominent hits of his own as a lead or solo role. His career declined in 80s when he turned producer and when he gained weight.

Also none of these actors except Amitabh had a good second innings of his career. Dharmendra offlate did some good and popular roles but didn't had the star power to carry films on his shoulder like Amitabh.

Which are the Mollywood star kids?

 List of Mollywood or Malayalam star kids who are less popular or not widely known to the public

Abhimanyu Thilakan

(Son of Shammi Thilakan)

Remember Marco Boy? He acted in a villain role in 2024, many of you won't believe but it's true. He made his acting debut with Marco (2024), directed by Haneef Adeni, where he played the antagonist Russell Isaac.

Arjun Ashokan

Son of Harisree Ashokan

Chandu Salim kumar

Son of Late actor Salim Kumar

Ahaana Krishna

Daughter of Krishna Kumar and Sindhu Krishna

Ann Augustine

Daughter of late actor Augustine

Kalyani Priyadarsan

Daughter of Priyadarshan, highly acclaimed excellent film maker and director known for his extensive work across Malayalam Hindi and Tamil Cinema

Leona Lishay

Daughter of actor Lishoy

Arthana Binu

Daughter of Vijayakumar Arthana Binu made her Malayalam film debut in 2016 with the caper-comedy Mudhugauv opposite Gokul Suresh.

Since then, she has starred in the Mammootty-led action-thriller Shylock (2020) as Poonkuzhali and most recently played Sreedevi in the 2024 police procedural drama Anweshippin Kandethum, also acted in Tamil films

Keerthy Suresh

Daughter of Keerthy Suresh's father is G. Suresh Kumar

He is a well-known Malayalam film producer and actor who has been active in the Indian entertainment industry since 1982.

⭐List of Malayalam Actors Who are superstars or currently leading actors in respective stage

Kunchacko Boban

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Indrajith Sukumaran

Fahadh Fasil

Dulquer Salmaan

(Son of Mammotty)

Pranav Mohanlal

(Son of Mohanlal)

Kalidas Jayaram

(Son of Jayaram)

Gokul Suresh

(Son of Suresh Gopi)

Shane Nigam

Son of late Kalabhavan Abi, a highly celebrated mimicry artist, comedian, and actor in the Malayalam film industry.

Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan

Son of late Actor Sreenivasan

⭐Supporting Cast Star kids

Shammi Thilakan and Shobi Thilakan

Son of late actor Thilakkan

Murali Gopi

Son of Late Legendary Actor and film director Bharat Gopy

Urvashi, Kalpana, and Kalaranjini

Three prominent sisters from a famous acting family who dominated Malayalam cinema, Daughter of Chavara V.P.Nair, an actor in 90s known for Pokkuveyil movie.

What are the secret love affairs of Bollywood star kids?

 Suhana khan: Suhana khan was in relationship with her rumoured foreigner boyfriend in London.she was always seen partying with this guy

Suhana khan was dating ahaan panday. chunkey's Panday nephew for a long time before she went to London for higher study.

Harshvardhan kapoor: Harshvardhan kapoor is a new play boy in bollywood.his first rumoured girlfriend was sapna panni.

After that he started dating Sara Ali Khan.Both were spotted together roaming around Mumbai at night.

Krishna Shroff: Krishna Shroff was in relationship Spenser Johnson who was a Brazilian basketball player Spenser is brazilian but then they brokeup.

Now she is in live in relationship with Eban hyams who is tiger's best friend and also a basketball player.

Navya naveli nanda: Amitabh's granddaughter Navya had a secret affair with SRK's son aryan khan

She is now rumoured to be in relationship with javed jaffrey's son mizan Jaffrey.

Ira khan: Amir Khan's daughter is never intrested in bollywood. But she creates headlines for her spicy affairs

She is now in relationship with Mishaal kripalani for last 2 years.Mishaal is a music composer and singer.

Could a star be so far away that the light from it is too weak for us to see?

 Easily.

A calculated gamble was taken to use the Hubble Space Telescope — pointing it at a known, very dark area of sky. The total exposure time was of 11 days.

They got this:

That is the Hubble Deep Field and those aren't stars but $3,000$ entire galaxies of stars invisible to the naked eye.

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It takes a few photons of light hitting your retina in a short space of time for you to perceive something is there. While there are a massive number of photons emitted by a star, the number per unit area drops off by the inverse square law.

A certain amount of photons passing through an area at a given distance passes through $2^2=4$ times the area at $2$ times the distance, $3^2=9$ times the area at $3$ times the distance, $4^2=16$ times at $4$ times etc. The number of photons per unit area drops off quickly and so much so that the photons from the galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field arrive far too far apart in time to trigger a human retina and let you know anything is there.

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That image is one twelfth the width of the Moon. Looking away from our galaxy's disc (where there would be significant dust to get in the way) you should expect a similar number of galaxies would be found over most of the sky and doing something similar $3$ years later in the southern sky produced something similar.

But as with the original almost all of the galaxies that are actually in the night sky are invisible to the naked eye.