Doomed Star Eta Carinae
Explanation:
Eta Carinae may be about to explode.
But no one knows when - it may be
next year, it may be one million years from now.
Eta Carinae's mass - about
100 times greater than our Sun -
makes it an excellent candidate for a full blown supernova.
Historical records do show that about 170 years ago
Eta Carinae underwent an unusual outburst
that made it one of the
brightest stars in the
southern sky.
Eta Carinae, in the
Keyhole Nebula, is the only
star currently
thought to emit natural LASER light.
This featured image brings out details in the
unusual nebula that surrounds
this rogue star.
Diffraction spikes, caused by the telescope, are visible
as bright multi-colored streaks emanating from Eta Carinae's center.
Two distinct lobes of the
Homunculus Nebula encompass the
hot central region,
while some strange radial streaks are visible in red extending toward the image right.
The lobes are
filled
with lanes of gas and
dust which absorb the blue and
ultraviolet light emitted near the center.
The streaks, however, remain
unexplained.
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.
