The Pistol in Sagittarius is one of the most massive known stars. But it has lost much of its original 200 solar masses. How long is the entire mass-loss process estimated to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass-loss process for massive stars like the one in the Pistol Nebula is estimated to take a few million years, as these stars lose mass through powerful stellar winds over their relatively short lifetimes.

The Pistol in Sagittarius Is One of the Most Massive