hypergiant
- noun
- /ˈhaɪpərˌdʒaɪənt/
- Specialized
- The line's shape provides us with a precise indicator for gas movements in the extended hypergiant atmosphere, where it forms.
- a yellow hypergiant
- hypergiant stars
Examples
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One out of a million stars in our galaxy is a normal supergiant star, yet fewer are hypergiants.
Academic text (2004) -
The hypergiant has an average radius of 400 to 500 times that of the Sun, so large that if placed at the Sun's position, it would...
Academic text (2004) -
PHOTO (COLOR): One of a rare breed of stars called hypergiants, Rho Cassiopeiae is a promising target for any observer.
Academic text (2004) -
HR 8752, for example, is a cool hypergiant that increased its surface temperature by 3,000 kelvins over the past thirty years, while the temperature of star IRC+10420 increased at least 2,000 kelvins over the last two decades.
Academic text (2004) -
The brilliant red hypergiant, VY Canis Majoris, is one of the largest known stars in our galaxy.
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Astronomers study hypergiants to understand the life cycle of massive stars.
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Compared to regular stars, hypergiants are astonishingly bright and can be seen from great distances.
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Hypergiant combines the Greek prefix hyper- meaning 'over' or 'too much' with the common word giant meaning 'very big', so a hypergiant is a star that is 'beyond giant' — much bigger and much brighter than an ordinary giant star.