Ad Astra

M☉ Notation

Unit of measurement in
astronomy called the solar mass.

  • M stands for Mass
  • ☉ Astronomical Symbol/Sun
  • 1 M☉, Benchmark unit
  • Equal to mass of our Sun

The Sun
(NASA/ESA)


Spirograph Nebula
(NASA/ESA)


Hourglass Nebula
(NASA/ESA)

Blue Supergiant

Star Classification: O-B

Luminosity Classification: I

Temperature (K) : 30000

Mass: 10–50 M☉

Elemental Composition: Hydrogen, Helium, ionized heavy elements

Description: Extremely massive, hot, luminous stars with powerful stellar winds.

Birth: Massive O/B stars evolving

Life: Extremely luminous, unstable, strong winds

☠️ Death: Supernova

Reincarnation: Neutron star or black hole

Example: Rigel, Deneb

Luminosity Classes

Added to spectral types.
Indicates size & brightness:

  • 0 or Ia+: Hypergiants
  • I (Ia, Ib): Supergiants
  • II: Bright Giants
  • III: Regular Giants
  • IV:Subgiants
  • V: Main Sequence
  • VI (sd): Subdwarfs
  • D (VII): White Dwarfs

Galaxy in Orange
(Wiki Images)

Wolf-Rayet Star
(NASA/ESA)

Planetary Nebula (PN K 4-55)
(NASA/ESA)