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The main star of the Antares system, Antares A
For example, the main star of the Antares system, Antares A, is a supergiant star that is 880 times larger than the Sun, but has a surface temperature of only 3,400 degrees, which is typical for inactive stars. It is so dim that it is barely visible across its 550 light years distance. Antares B, in comparison, which is an active companion star, is only 5.2 times as large as the Sun but has a surface temperature of 18,500 degrees that is typical for what may be termed, active stars. In the image shown here, the size of the smaller Antares-B is dramatically exaggerated, perhaps to illustrate the visual difference between an active and inactive star. In its active days, Antares-A might have been a superstar.
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