Astronomy Picture of the Day . Dusty Environs of Eta Carinae . ... Credit Copyright: MSX , IPAC , NASA Explanation: Eta Car is a massive star, but it's not as bright as it used to be. ... Surrounded by a complex and evolving nebula, Eta Carinae is seen near the center of this false-color infrared image , constructed using data from the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX). ... In the picture, wispy, convoluted filaments are clouds of dust glowing at infrared wavelengths. ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...