WOH G64

WOH G64

VLTI image of the dusty torus around the star.
Credit: ESO
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Dorado
Right ascension 04h 55m 10.5252s
Declination −68° 20 29.998
Apparent magnitude (V) 17.7 - 18.8
Characteristics
A
Evolutionary stage Yellow hypergiant
Apparent magnitude (K) 6.849
Apparent magnitude (R) 15.69
Apparent magnitude (G) 15.0971
Apparent magnitude (I) 12.795
Apparent magnitude (J) 9.252
Apparent magnitude (H) 7.745
Variable type Slow irregular variable + symbiotic
B
Spectral type B
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)285±2 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 1.689 mas/yr
Dec.: −0.013 mas/yr
Distance160,000 ly
(50,000 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−6.00
Details
A
Mass28 (initial mass) M
Radius~800 R
Surface gravity (log g)0.0 cgs
Temperature4,700 K
Age≤5 Myr
Other designations
WOH G064, 2MASS J04551048-6820298, IRAS 04553-6825, MSX LMC 1182
Database references
SIMBADdata

WOH G64 (IRAS 04553-6825) is a symbiotic binary in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), roughly 160,000 light-years from Earth. The main component of this system was once recognized as the best candidate for the largest known star when it was a red supergiant, until it gradually became a yellow hypergiant with half of its original size. The secondary is a B-type star. This system also exhibits features of B(e) stars.

WOH G64 is surrounded by an optically thick dust envelope of roughly a light year in diameter, containing 3 to 9 times the Sun's mass of expelled material that was created by the strong stellar wind.