stellar mass

astronomy

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July 16, 2026

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Stellar mass is a fundamental property of stars, referring to the amount of matter a star contains. Most stars fall within a range of 0.3 to 3 solar masses, though some can be significantly larger, with the most massive known star being around 265 solar masses. There's a theoretical upper limit to stellar mass, known as the Eddington limit, preventing stars from becoming infinitely massive.1

A crucial relationship exists between a star's mass and its luminosity, known as the mass-luminosity correlation. This correlation indicates that more massive stars are generally more luminous. This relationship is particularly accurate for unevolved main-sequence stars. Stellar masses are primarily determined by studying binary star systems.234

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astronomy
Star formation and evolution
…of stellar evolution depends on stellar mass. Some stars pass through an unstable stage in which their dimensions, temperature, and luminosity change cyclically over periods of hours or days. These so-called Cepheid variables serve as standard candles for distance measurements (see above Determining astronomical distances). Some stars blow off their…
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…of stellar evolution depends on stellar mass. Some stars pass through an unstable stage in which their dimensions, temperature, and luminosity change cyclically over periods of hours or days. These so-called Cepheid variables serve as standard candles for distance measurements (see above Determining astronomical distances). Some stars blow off their…
Read More