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Credit & Copyright: J. Morse
(University of Colorado),
K. Davidson
(University of Minnesota) and
collaborators,
WFPC2,
Hubble
Space Telescope,
NASA
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 -
make it an excellent candidate for a full blown supernova. Historical records do show that about 150 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
just-released
image taken last September resulted from sophisticated
image-processing procedures designed to bring out new details in the
unusual nebula that surrounds
this
rogue star. Now clearly visible are two
distinct lobes, a hot
central
region, and strange radial streaks.
The lobes are filled with lanes of gas and dust which absorb the blue and
ultraviolet light emitted near the center. The streaks remain unexplained.
Will these clues tell us how the nebula was formed?
Will they better indicate when
Eta
Carinae will explode?
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: star - Eta Carinae
Publications with words: star - Eta Carinae
See also: