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Mass

Just how heavy is 100 solar masses?

Moons, planets & stars

100 M☉

Scale
100 solar masses

The quantity is exact as entered.

1.988 × 10³² kgMass in kilograms
0 kg
Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion that changes in brightness over time.

2.983 × 10³¹ kgMass in kilograms
0 kg

Bar length measures mass, not physical size. Both bars start at zero kilograms (kg). Pictures identify the objects only.

A little perspective

100 solar masses is about 6.67 times the mass of Betelgeuse.

Measurements, assumptions & sources +

100 solar masses

Mass: 100 M☉; definition.

The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.

NIST — SI conversion factors

Betelgeuse

Mass: 15 M☉; rounded model.

A deliberately rounded red-supergiant model. Its apparent edge varies with wavelength and the star changes over time.

Defined examples — our methodology

The marked mass is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Measurement details

Why these numbers?

Compare 100 solar masses with the mass of Betelgeuse. The notes below explain how each value was chosen.

100 solar masses

100 M☉

Mass · definition

The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.

Betelgeuse

15 M☉

Mass · rounded model

A deliberately rounded red-supergiant model. Its apparent edge varies with wavelength and the star changes over time.

Comparing
Mass ↔ Mass
Relative size
100 solar masses is about 6.67 times the mass of Betelgeuse. 100 solar masses is approximately 567% greater than the mass of Betelgeuse.

How to read the visual

The diagram uses the recorded measurements. Details outside the marked spans do not set the scale.

  • The mass of Betelgeuse: This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.

Mass is distinct from weight: an object’s mass stays the same as gravity changes.

1.9885 × 10³² kgkilograms
4.3838 × 10³² lbpounds
1.9885 × 10²⁹ ttonnes

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