HD 37836

The star was first mentioned in a 1901 paper as an object with an unusual spectrum with bright H-alpha, H-beta and H-delta lines located in the LMC.^[8] Later it was catalogued in the Henry Draper Catalogue and given the designation HD 37836. In 1957 it was noted that its spectral lines show a P Cygni profile.^[9]

HD 37836 is an extremely luminous blue supergiant with parameters similar to other similar stars, such as η Carinae A. It is also an α Cygni variable.^[10] Its apparent magnitude varies by ~0.2 magnitudes.

In 1983, its luminosity was estimated to be 5.6 million L_☉ and its mass was estimated to be 100 M_☉, which would make it one of the most luminous and most massive known stars.^[11]

A paper published in 1987 again noted the star's peculiar spectrum. It also concluded that the star might be similar to HD 269445 and Hen S 131. The star's luminosity was estimated to be around 4 million L_☉.^[12]

A year later, it was classified as a possible S Doradus variable.^[13] A 1998 paper considers it an active LBV, an Alpha Cygni variable, and a 2018 census of LBVs considers it to be a candidate.^[7][14]

A 2023 paper estimates its luminosity to be 4.2 million solar luminosities and its temperature to be 28,200 K based on the star's spectral type, corresponding to a radius of 85 solar radii, comparable to that of Rigel.^[4]