仙王座(zuo)RW是(shi)(shi)仙王座(zuo)中最大(da)的(de)恒星之一,也是(shi)(shi)已知最大(da),最亮的(de)恒星之一。
它是(shi)一個(ge)不(bu)尋常的特超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing),也是(shi)周(zhou)期極(ji)(ji)長的變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)星(xing)(xing)。光(guang)(guang)變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)周(zhou)期長達50~70年。這個(ge)恒星(xing)(xing)距離地(di)球足有(you)14000ly,但(dan)由(you)于(yu)(yu)(yu)本身亮(liang)度(du)(du)極(ji)(ji)高,在它最(zui)亮(liang)時(shi)可(ke)(ke)以用肉(rou)眼勉強看到(dao)(dao)。根據推(tui)測,該(gai)星(xing)(xing)半(ban)(ban)徑在981~1758R⊙之間不(bu)斷變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)化,平(ping)均(jun)約(yue)為(wei)1369.5R⊙。同時(shi)它的光(guang)(guang)度(du)(du)和(he)光(guang)(guang)譜型(xing)也在不(bu)斷變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)化。其光(guang)(guang)譜變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)化于(yu)(yu)(yu)G8-M2,平(ping)均(jun)則是(shi)K型(xing)的橙特超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing),但(dan)最(zui)冷(leng)時(shi)會(hui)成為(wei)M型(xing)的紅超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing)。對應的溫度(du)(du)變(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)化于(yu)(yu)(yu)3749~5018K,平(ping)均(jun)約(yue)是(shi)4015K。從其直徑和(he)溫度(du)(du)可(ke)(ke)以推(tui)算(suan)出(chu)它的總輻射光(guang)(guang)度(du)(du),平(ping)均(jun)約(yue)為(wei)5.5×10^5L⊙。該(gai)星(xing)(xing)最(zui)亮(liang)時(shi)的總光(guang)(guang)度(du)(du)可(ke)(ke)能會(hui)超(chao)(chao)(chao)過6×10^5L⊙,最(zui)暗時(shi)也有(you)太(tai)陽的4.5×10^5倍。這個(ge)光(guang)(guang)度(du)(du)遠遠超(chao)(chao)(chao)過一般紅特超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing)的光(guang)(guang)度(du)(du)(2×10^5~3×10^5L⊙),但(dan)和(he)半(ban)(ban)人(ren)馬座(zuo)V766(7.5×10^5L⊙)很接(jie)近,說明這個(ge)恒星(xing)(xing)處(chu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)一種很稀有(you)的演化階段,大約(yue)是(shi)黃特超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing)即將演化到(dao)(dao)紅超(chao)(chao)(chao)巨星(xing)(xing)的階段。
根據其光度估測這顆恒星質量(liang)約為(wei)35~45M⊙,而最(zui)新的研(yan)究(jiu)結果將其質量(liang)降低至(zhi)13.9M⊙,不(bu)過這樣的質量(liang)也足(zu)以使它(ta)經(jing)過紅特超(chao)巨星階(jie)段(duan)后(hou)演變成一個(ge)超(chao)高(gao)溫的沃爾(er)夫-拉(la)葉星。但其最(zui)終的命運依舊是成為(wei)超(chao)新星。它(ta)距離地(di)球約為(wei)14000ly,隸(li)屬于仙王座(zuo)OB1星協,年齡(ling)不(bu)會超(chao)過10^7年。
它是仙王(wang)座內的幾個(ge)巨型恒星之一,直(zhi)徑和仙王(wang)座VV,造父四,仙王(wang)座V354相仿。