Stephenson 2-18 - Stephenson 2 DFK 1 - RSGC2 -18 - WOH G64 Star System

Stephenson 2-18, aka Stephenson 2 DFK 1, RSGC2 -18, and WOH G64, is a type M, Red Hyper Giant, off the Main Sequence star, located at a distance of 20,000 light years from the Solar System. Since UY Scuti was reexamined and found to be closer than previously estimated, it has become smaller and less luminous than originally speculated and is now no longer the largest star we know of. In its place Stephenson 2-18 has taken its place, though it too needs more study by other teams and their observing devices to confirm its distance and size. But for now enjoy your first glimpse of this huge contender. It is between 5 and 10 million years old, its luminosity is calculated at 440,000 times the Solar luminosity, and its radius is 10. 04 Astronomical Units larger than the orbit of Saturn.