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Credit & Copyright: Loke Kun Tan
(StarryScapes)
Explanation:
In one of the brightest parts of the
Milky Way
lies a nebula where some of the oddest things occur.
NGC 3372, known as the
Great Nebula in Carina,
is home to massive stars and changing nebula.
Eta Carina,
the most energetic star in the nebula was one of the
brightest stars in the sky in the 1830s,
but then faded dramatically.
The Keyhole Nebula, visible near the center,
houses several of the most massive stars
known and has also changed its appearance.
The Carina Nebula spans over 300 light years and
lies about 7000 light-years away in the constellation of Carina.
The above image was taken from La Frontera in Alcohuaz,
Chile.
Eta Carina
might explode in a dramatic
supernova
within the next thousand years, and has even
flared in brightness over just the
past decade.
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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 formation
Publications with words: star formation
See also: