V838 Monocerotis
V838 Monocerotis is a red variable star also known as Nova Monocerotis 2002, located in the constellation Monoceros.
The star lies at a distance of around 20,000 light years from Earth. It became famous in 2002, when it had a major outburst and briefly became one of the largest stars known and one of the most luminous stars in the Milky Way, with a luminosity about 600,000 times that of the Sun.
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