Estimates made from distance, brightness and standard solar models had given one star in the open cluster Pismis 24 over 200 times the mass of our Sun, making it a record holder.
This star is the brightest object located just to the right of the gas front in the above image.
Component stars would still remain near 100 solar masses, making them among the more massive stars currently on record.
Toward the image left, stars are still forming in the associated emission nebula NGC 6357, including several that appear to be breaking out and illuminating a spectacular cocoon.
