Which star has the shortest known life expectancy among the most massive stars?
Quick Answer
Very massive stars such as those in the R136 cluster can live only a few million years, far less than the Sun’s roughly 10 billion-year lifespan. Their extreme mass makes them burn fuel very quickly.
The Full Story
The most massive stars, such as some found in the R136 cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud, have the shortest lifespans among stars. A star with dozens of solar masses may live only 1 to 3 million years, compared with the Sun’s expected 10 billion years. Their enormous mass makes core fusion much faster, so they burn through fuel at a tremendous rate. These stars often end their lives as supernovae or even collapse directly into black holes.
Key Facts
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