Star Size Comparisons
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February 22, 2011
On the day you were born, another consciousness opened inside the cosmos and began taking notes.
Star Size Comparisons
Birthday · February 22, 2011
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published February 22, 2011. Credit: morn1415 (YouTube). A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
How big is our Sun compared to other stars? In a dramatic and popular video featured on YouTube, the relative sizes of planets and stars are shown from smallest to largest. The above video starts with Earth's Moon and progresses through increasingly larger planets in our Solar System. Next, the Sun is shown along as compared to many of the brighter stars in our neighborhood of the Milky Way Galaxy. Finally, some of the largest stars known spin into view. Note that the true sizes of most stars outside of the Sun and Betelgeuse are not known by direct observation, but rather inferred by measurements of their perceived brightness, temperature, and distance. Although an inspiring learning tool that is mostly accurate, APOD readers are encouraged to complete the learning experience -- and possibly help make future versions more accurate -- by pointing out slight inaccuracies in the video.
Image credit: morn1415 (YouTube)