In the Center of the Keyhole Nebula
Explanation:
Stars, like people, do not always
go
gentle into that good night. The above
Keyhole Nebula
results from dying star
Eta Carinae's violently casting off
dust and gas during its final centuries.
Eta Carinae
is many times more massive than our own
Sun,
and should eventually undergo a tremendous
supernova explosion. Eta Carinae emits much light in colors
outside the human visible range. This past week,
X-ray emission from
Eta Carinae was verified by the orbiting
Rossi
X-Ray Timing Explorer to be periodic,
peaking every 85.1 days. This, along with a previously hypothesized
5.52 year period,
indicates that the dying star might be part of a multiple star system.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
