supergiant stars

Supergiant stars are among the largest and most luminous stars in the universe, significantly bigger than our Sun. They have expanded and cooled after exhausting their core fuel, resulting in enormous sizes—sometimes hundreds of times the Sun's diameter—and intense brightness. Despite their size, they are relatively rare and have relatively short lifespans, often ending their lives in spectacular supernova explosions. Supergiants play a crucial role in enriching the cosmos with heavy elements, which contribute to the formation of new stars and planets. Their immense size and brightness make them key objects of study in understanding stellar evolution.