VY Canis Majoris is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Canis Major, approximately 3,900 light-years away from Earth. It is one of the largest known stars, with a radius about 1,500 times that of our Sun. This immense size makes it a fascinating subject for astronomers studying stellar evolution and the life cycles of massive stars. Despite its size, VY Canis Majoris is not the most luminous star; it has a lower brightness compared to other supergiants. It is classified as a variable star, meaning its brightness changes over time due to pulsations in its outer layers.