HD 5980
Encyclopedia
HD 5980 is a binary star
in NGC 346
nebula. It is one of the brightest stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
, and one of the most luminous stars known. HD 5980 A is probably a luminous blue variable
of about 40–60 solar mass
es, while HD 5980 B is an evolved Wolf–Rayet star of about 30 solar masses.
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
in NGC 346
NGC 346
NGC 346 is an open cluster with associated nebula located in the Small Magellanic Cloud that appears in the constellation Tucana.-Gallery:-External links:* * *...
nebula. It is one of the brightest stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Small Magellanic Cloud
The Small Magellanic Cloud is a dwarf galaxy. It has a diameter of about 7,000 light-years and contains several hundred million stars. It has a total mass of approximately 7 billion times the mass of our Sun....
, and one of the most luminous stars known. HD 5980 A is probably a luminous blue variable
Luminous blue variable
Luminous blue variables, also known as S Doradus variables, are very bright, blue, hypergiant variable stars named after S Doradus, the brightest star of the Large Magellanic Cloud. They exhibit long, slow changes in brightness, punctuated by occasional outbursts in brightness during substantial...
of about 40–60 solar mass
Solar mass
The solar mass , , is a standard unit of mass in astronomy, used to indicate the masses of other stars and galaxies...
es, while HD 5980 B is an evolved Wolf–Rayet star of about 30 solar masses.