For a Massive Star ($ ext{around } 15 M_{ ext{suns}}$), what is the approximate main sequence lifetime?
Answer
Tens of millions of years
Stars located near the upper end of the main sequence, such as one with approximately 15 times the mass of the Sun, experience extremely short lifespans on this stable phase. Due to the intense core pressures and the corresponding massive luminosity dictated by their high mass, they consume their substantial hydrogen reserves at an extraordinarily rapid pace. Consequently, their main sequence tenure is measured not in billions of years, like our Sun, but in merely tens of millions of years. This rapid burn highlights the steep trade-off between mass and longevity.
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