List of stars with resolved images
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:19:05 PM Wikipedia source
The following is a list of stars with resolved images, that is, stars whose images have been resolved beyond a point source. Aside from the Sun, observed from Earth, stars are exceedingly small in apparent size, requiring the use of special high-resolution equipment and techniques to image. For example, Betelgeuse, the first star other than the Sun to be resolved, has an angular diameter of only 50 milliarcseconds (mas).
Tables
List of stars with resolved images · List
Angular (mas)
Angular (mas)
Star
Angular (mas)
Sun
Sun
Star
Sun
Diameter
1930000±30000
Diameter
1
Distance
(ly)
0
First imager
Louis Fizeau and Léon Foucault
Year
1845
Altair
α Aql
Altair
α Aql
Star
Altair
α Aql
Diameter
3
Diameter
1 ±0 (polar)
2 ±0 (equator)
Distance
(ly)
16 ±0
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2006
Rasalhague
α Oph A
Rasalhague
α Oph A
Star
Rasalhague
α Oph A
Diameter
1 ±0
Diameter
2 ±0 (polar)
2 ±0 (equator)
Distance
(ly)
48 ±0
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2006
Alderamin
α Cep
Alderamin
α Cep
Star
Alderamin
α Cep
Diameter
1 ±0 (polar)
1 ±0 (equator)
Diameter
2 ±0 (polar)
2 ±0 (equator)
Distance
(ly)
48 ±0
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2006
Caph
β Cas
Caph
β Cas
Star
Caph
β Cas
Diameter
1 ±0
Diameter
3 ±0 (polar)
3 ±0 (equator)
Distance
(ly)
54 ±0
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2007
Regulus
α Leo Aa
Regulus
α Leo Aa
Star
Regulus
α Leo Aa
Diameter
1 ±0
Diameter
3 ±0 (polar)
4 ±0 (equator)
Distance
(ly)
79 ±0
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2008
Algol
β Per Aa1
Algol
β Per Aa1
Star
Algol
β Per Aa1
Diameter
0 ±0
Diameter
4
Distance
(ly)
93±2
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2006
Notes
stationary object in the animation
β Per Aa2
β Per Aa2
Star
β Per Aa2
Diameter
3
Diameter
orbiting object in the animation
β Per Ab
β Per Ab
Star
β Per Ab
Diameter
0
First imager
Observed radius of Algol Ab is an instrumental artifact, caused by bandwidth smearing.
Actual radius is 1 ± 0 R☉.
Alkaid
η UMa
Alkaid
η UMa
Star
Alkaid
η UMa
Diameter
0 ±0
Diameter
2 ±0
Distance
(ly)
103 ±0
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2012
σ Gem A
σ Gem A
Star
σ Gem A
Diameter
2
Diameter
10 ±0
Distance
(ly)
126±2
First imager
CHARA array/MIRC
Year
2011
Notes
The star contains starspots on its surface
Markab
α Peg
Markab
α Peg
Star
Markab
α Peg
Diameter
1 ±0
Diameter
4 ±0
Distance
(ly)
133±1
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2012
Elnath
β Tau
Elnath
β Tau
Star
Elnath
β Tau
Diameter
1 ±0
Diameter
4 ±0
Distance
(ly)
134±2
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2012
ζ And Aa
ζ And Aa
Star
ζ And Aa
Diameter
2 ±0
Diameter
15 ±0 (polar)
Distance
(ly)
189±3
First imager
CFHT
Year
1996
Notes
First direct imaging of starspots on a star outside the Solar System.
R Dor
R Dor
Star
R Dor
Diameter
57±5
Diameter
370±50
Distance
(ly)
204±9
First imager
New Technology Telescope
Year
1993
Notes
2nd largest known star by apparent diameter in Earth's sky, after the Sun.
Mira
ο Cet A
Mira
ο Cet A
Star
Mira
ο Cet A
Diameter
28 –34
Diameter
332–402
Distance
(ly)
420
First imager
Hubble – FOC
Year
1997
Polaris
α UMi Aa
Polaris
α UMi Aa
Star
Polaris
α UMi Aa
Diameter
3 ±0
Diameter
46 ±0
Distance
(ly)
446±1
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2024
T Lep
T Lep
Star
T Lep
Diameter
5 15 for molecular layer
Diameter
100
Distance
(ly)
500
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/AMBER
Year
2009
π1 Gru
π1 Gru
Star
π1 Gru
Diameter
21
Diameter
370
Distance
(ly)
535
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER
Year
2017
Notes
First directly observed granulation patterns on a star's surface outside the Solar System.
Antares
α Sco A
Antares
α Sco A
Star
Antares
α Sco A
Diameter
41 ±0
Diameter
680
Distance
(ly)
553
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/AMBER
Year
2017
R Car
R Car
Star
R Car
Diameter
10 ±0 –13 ±0
Diameter
400–540
Distance
(ly)
590±40
First imager
Very Large Telescope – PIONIER
Year
2014
Betelgeuse
α Ori
Betelgeuse
α Ori
Star
Betelgeuse
α Ori
Diameter
50
Diameter
640–764
Distance
(ly)
643±146
First imager
Hubble – GHRS
Year
1995
Notes
First star with a resolved image outside the Solar System.
Sheliak
β Lyr Aa
Sheliak
β Lyr Aa
Star
Sheliak
β Lyr Aa
Diameter
0
Diameter
6
Distance
(ly)
960±50
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2007
Notes
Both Aa1 and Aa2 are visible in the animation.
R Scl
R Scl
Star
R Scl
Diameter
8 ±0
Diameter
355±55
Distance
(ly)
1180±140
First imager
Very Large Telescope – AMBER
Year
2017
θ1 Ori C
θ1 Ori C
Star
θ1 Ori C
Diameter
0
Diameter
10 ±1
Distance
(ly)
1400
First imager
Very Large Telescope – AMBER
Year
2009
Notes
In the image, the right inset is θ1 Ori C and the left inset is θ1 Ori F.
θ1 Ori F
θ1 Ori F
Star
θ1 Ori F
Distance
(ly)
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/GRAVITY
First imager
2016
ε Aur
ε Aur
Star
ε Aur
Diameter
2 ±0
Diameter
143–358
Distance
(ly)
2000–4800
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2009
Notes
Supergiant with an eclipsing companion surrounded by a massive, opaque debris disk
AZ Cyg
AZ Cyg
Star
AZ Cyg
Diameter
4 ±0
Diameter
911+57
−50
Distance
(ly)
6820+420
−380
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC
Year
2011
SU Per
SU Per
Star
SU Per
Diameter
3 ±0
Diameter
1044+31
−21–1139+34
−23
Distance
(ly)
7,250+470
−420
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2015
ρ Cas
ρ Cas
Star
ρ Cas
Diameter
2 ±0
Diameter
564-700
Distance
(ly)
8150±1630
First imager
CHARA array
Year
2024
RW Cep
RW Cep
Star
RW Cep
Diameter
2
Diameter
1100±44
Distance
(ly)
11000+4600
−2600–22000+5200
−3300
First imager
CHARA array – MIRC-X and MYSTIC
Year
2022
Notes
Hypergiant star currently undergoing a great dimming event
HR 5171 Aa
HR 5171 Aa
Star
HR 5171 Aa
Diameter
4 ±0
Diameter
1060–1160
Distance
(ly)
11740±1630
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER
Year
2014
Notes
Eclipsing and potential contact binary yellow hypergiant
WOH G64
WOH G64
Star
WOH G64
Diameter
800
Distance
(ly)
ca. 160 000
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/GRAVITY
Year
2024
Notes
Star is in the Large Magellanic Cloud. First resolved image of star outside of the Milky Way.
V602 Carinae
V602 Carinae
Star
V602 Carinae
Diameter
1,015
First imager
Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER
Year
2022
| Star | Image | Diameter | Distance (ly) | First imager | Year | Notes | |
| Angular (mas) | Geometric (R☉) | ||||||
| Sun | | 1930000±30000 | 1 | 0 | Louis Fizeau and Léon Foucault | 1845 | |
| Altair α Aql | | 3 | 1 ±0 (polar) 2 ±0 (equator) | 16 ±0 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2006 | |
| Rasalhague α Oph A | 1 ±0 | 2 ±0 (polar) 2 ±0 (equator) | 48 ±0 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2006 | ||
| Alderamin α Cep | 1 ±0 (polar) 1 ±0 (equator) | 2 ±0 (polar) 2 ±0 (equator) | 48 ±0 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2006 | ||
| Caph β Cas | 1 ±0 | 3 ±0 (polar) 3 ±0 (equator) | 54 ±0 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2007 | ||
| Regulus α Leo Aa | 1 ±0 | 3 ±0 (polar) 4 ±0 (equator) | 79 ±0 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2008 | ||
| Algol β Per Aa1 | | 0 ±0 | 4 | 93±2 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2006 | stationary object in the animation |
| β Per Aa2 | 1 ±0 | 3 | orbiting object in the animation | ||||
| β Per Ab | 0 ±0 | 0 | Observed radius of Algol Ab is an instrumental artifact, caused by bandwidth smearing. Actual radius is 1 ± 0 R☉. | ||||
| Alkaid η UMa | 0 ±0 | 2 ±0 | 103 ±0 | CHARA array | 2012 | ||
| σ Gem A | 2 | 10 ±0 | 126±2 | CHARA array/MIRC | 2011 | The star contains starspots on its surface | |
| Markab α Peg | 1 ±0 | 4 ±0 | 133±1 | CHARA array | 2012 | ||
| Elnath β Tau | 1 ±0 | 4 ±0 | 134±2 | CHARA array | 2012 | ||
| ζ And Aa | 2 ±0 | 15 ±0 (polar) | 189±3 | CFHT | 1996 | First direct imaging of starspots on a star outside the Solar System. | |
| R Dor | | 57±5 | 370±50 | 204±9 | New Technology Telescope | 1993 | 2nd largest known star by apparent diameter in Earth's sky, after the Sun. |
| Mira ο Cet A | | 28 –34 | 332–402 | 420 | Hubble – FOC | 1997 | |
| Polaris α UMi Aa | | 3 ±0 | 46 ±0 | 446±1 | CHARA array | 2024 | |
| T Lep | | 5 15 for molecular layer | 100 | 500 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/AMBER | 2009 | |
| π1 Gru | | 21 | 370 | 535 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER | 2017 | First directly observed granulation patterns on a star's surface outside the Solar System. |
| Antares α Sco A | | 41 ±0 | 680 | 553 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/AMBER | 2017 | |
| R Car | 10 ±0 –13 ±0 | 400–540 | 590±40 | Very Large Telescope – PIONIER | 2014 | ||
| Betelgeuse α Ori | | 50 | 640–764 | 643±146 | Hubble – GHRS | 1995 | First star with a resolved image outside the Solar System. |
| Sheliak β Lyr Aa | 0 | 6 | 960±50 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2007 | Both Aa1 and Aa2 are visible in the animation. | |
| R Scl | | 8 ±0 | 355±55 | 1180±140 | Very Large Telescope – AMBER | 2017 | |
| θ1 Ori C | | 0 | 10 ±1 | 1400 | Very Large Telescope – AMBER | 2009 | In the image, the right inset is θ1 Ori C and the left inset is θ1 Ori F. |
| θ1 Ori F | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/GRAVITY | 2016 | |||||
| ε Aur | 2 ±0 | 143–358 | 2000–4800 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2009 | Supergiant with an eclipsing companion surrounded by a massive, opaque debris disk | |
| AZ Cyg | 4 ±0 | 911+57 −50 | 6820+420 −380 | CHARA array – MIRC | 2011 | ||
| SU Per | 3 ±0 | 1044+31 −21–1139+34 −23 | 7,250+470 −420 | CHARA array | 2015 | ||
| ρ Cas | | 2 ±0 | 564-700 | 8150±1630 | CHARA array | 2024 | |
| RW Cep | | 2 | 1100±44 | 11000+4600 −2600–22000+5200 −3300 | CHARA array – MIRC-X and MYSTIC | 2022 | Hypergiant star currently undergoing a great dimming event |
| HR 5171 Aa | | 4 ±0 | 1060–1160 | 11740±1630 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER | 2014 | Eclipsing and potential contact binary yellow hypergiant |
| WOH G64 | | 800 | ca. 160 000 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/GRAVITY | 2024 | Star is in the Large Magellanic Cloud. First resolved image of star outside of the Milky Way. | |
| V602 Carinae | 1,015 | Very Large Telescope – VLTI/PIONIER | 2022 | ||||
References
- Published 2024 based on observations from 2014 and 2020
- First peer-reviewed publication in 2021, based on observations from 2011-2016
- Astronomical Journalhttps://doi.org/10.1086%2F300596
- NASAhttps://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/locations/firstphoto.php
- Sciencehttps://arxiv.org/abs/0706.0867
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0906.2241
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://arxiv.org/abs/1105.0740
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://arxiv.org/abs/1205.0754
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://doi.org/10.3847%2F1538-4357%2Fab04b2
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://doi.org/10.3847%2F1538-4357%2Faa8ef7
- Astronomy and Astrophysicshttps://arxiv.org/abs/1301.0445
- Naturehttps://arxiv.org/abs/1709.10107
- "The Biggest Star in the Sky"http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso9706/
- Astronomy & Astrophysicshttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0404248
- "Hubble Separates Stars in the Mira Binary System"https://web.archive.org/web/20221224053908/https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/1997/news-1997-26.html
- The Astrophysical Journalhttps://doi.org/10.3847%2F1538-4357%2Fad5e7a
- "Hundred metre virtual telescope captures unique detailed colour image"http://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso0906/
- J . Le Bouquin, S. Lacour, S. Renard, E. Thiébaut, A. Merand, T. Verhoelst, Pre-maximum spectro-imaging of the Mira star
- Astronomy & Astrophysicshttps://arxiv.org/abs/2312.03467
- "Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star's Surface"https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1741/