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.[9] 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.[10]
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☉.[11]
A year later, it was classified as a possible S Doradus variable.[12] A 1998 paper considers it an active LBV, an Alpha Cygni variable, and a 2018 census of LBVs considers it to be a candidate.[6][13]
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.[3]
^ abLennon, Daniel J.; Marel, Roeland P. van der; Lerate, Mercedes Ramos; O’Mullane, William; Sahlmann, Johannes (2017-07-01). "Gaia TGAS search for Large Magellanic Cloud runaway supergiant stars - Candidate hypervelocity star discovery and the nature of R 71". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 603: A75. arXiv:1611.05504. Bibcode:2017A&A...603A..75L. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201630076. ISSN0004-6361. S2CID119474184.
^van Genderen, A. M.; Groot, M.; The, P. S. (1983-01-01). "On the photometric differences between luminous OBA type stars in the LMC with and without P Cygni characteristics". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 117: 53–59. Bibcode:1983A&A...117...53V. ISSN0004-6361.
^Stahl, O.; Wolf, B. (1987-07-01). "The peculiar emission-line supergiant HD 37836". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 181: 293–299. Bibcode:1987A&A...181..293S. ISSN0004-6361.
^Lortet, M. C. (1988-12-01). "A provisory catalogue of S-Dor candidate stars in the Magellanic Clouds". Bulletin d'Information du Centre de Donnees Stellaires. 35: 145–154. Bibcode:1988BICDS..35..145L. ISSN1169-8837.
^van Genderen, A. M.; Sterken, C.; de Groot, M.; Reijns, R. A. (1998-04-01). "Light variations of massive stars (alpha Cyg variables). XV. The LMC supergiants R99 (LBV), R103, R123 (LBV) and R128". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 332: 857–866. Bibcode:1998A&A...332..857V. ISSN0004-6361.