The maximum possible mass of a degenerate star, above which it will be unable to support itself against the inward pull of its own gravity. For a star with no hydrogen content the limit is 1.44 solar masses, which is thus the maximum possible mass for a white dwarf. A degenerate star with a mass greater than this limit would collapse under gravity to become either a neutron star or a black hole. It is named after S. Chandrasekhar.
Subjects: Physics — Astronomy and Astrophysics.