Var 83
VHK 83 is a luminous blue variable in the constellation Triangulum, in the Triangulum Galaxy. With its bolometric luminosity of at least 2,240,000 times that of the Sun, it was described as "the brightest nonstable star in M33" and is one of the most luminous stars known.
The brightness varies slowly and unpredictably over a 1-2 magnitude visual range and can remain approximately constant for many years. These variations, combined with the high luminosity and temperature of the star, caused it to be grouped with the Hubble-Sandage variables even before the term "Luminous blue variable" was more than a simple description. Despite widespread agreement that it is an LBV it has yet to be observed in outburst, although the temperature has been observed to change in tandem with the brightness variations.
Temperature estimates for the star range from around 18,000K to well over 30,000K. The hotter temperatures found from fitting the spectral energy distribution are consistent with the calculated luminosity of an LBV in the quiescent stage, but the spectrum is that of a cooler star.
