The solar mass (M) is a staundart unit o mass in astronomy that is uised tae indicate the masses o ither starns, as well as clusters, nebulae an galaxies.

Size an mass o very lairge starns: Maist massive example, the blue Pistol Star (150 M). Ithers are Rho Cassiopeiae (40 M), Betelgeuse (20 M), an VY Canis Majoris (17 M). The Sun (1 M) which is nae veesible in this thumbnail is included tae illustrate the scale o example starns. Yird's orbit (grey), Jupiter's orbit (reid), an Neptune's orbit (blue) are an aa gien.