Knowra Luminous blue variable Luminous blue variable A luminous blue variable is an evolved, extremely massive star that undergoes dramatic changes in brightness and spectrum. Some experience giant eruptions that eject large amounts of material.
Eddington limit : The luminosity at which outward radiation pressure balances a star’s inward gravity. Approaching this limit can make a luminous blue variable’s outer layers unstable.
Stellar evolution : The sequence of physical changes a star undergoes as it consumes nuclear fuel and loses energy. Luminous blue variables are a short-lived phase in the evolution of some massive stars.
Wolf–Rayet star : A hot, massive star whose strong winds have exposed layers rich in helium, carbon, or nitrogen. Wolf–Rayet stars are often considered a possible later evolutionary state after luminous-blue-variable mass loss.
S Doradus : A luminous blue variable in the Large Magellanic Cloud that lends its name to S Doradus-type variability. Its recurring brightness and spectral changes exemplify the class’s non-eruptive variability.
Stellar wind : A continuous outflow of gas from a star’s atmosphere into space. Winds remove mass between the more dramatic eruptions.
Massive star : A star born with substantially more mass than the Sun, with a hot interior and rapid evolution. The class consists of evolved stars from the high-mass end of stellar populations.
Red supergiant : A very large, cool star near the end of its evolution, with an expanded outer envelope. Its cool, extended atmosphere contrasts with the hot, blue appearance of luminous blue variables.
SN 2006gy : An exceptionally luminous supernova discovered in 2006, surrounded by dense circumstellar material. Its environment raised questions about whether extreme mass loss preceded the explosion.
Pulsational pair-instability : A process in which electron–positron pair creation triggers repeated, partial thermonuclear explosions in a massive star. It is one proposed mechanism for some exceptionally energetic giant eruptions.
Bolometric luminosity : The total energy a celestial object emits per unit time across all wavelengths. Their enormous total output can remain high even when their visible brightness changes.
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