Eta Carinae:
Astronomers are closely monitoring Eta Carinae, as it may be on the verge of a spectacular explosion.
- Eta Carinae is a hypergiant star with a mass approximately 100 times that of our Sun.
- It is located about 7,500 light-years away in the Carina Nebula, Eta Carinae is one of the most massive and luminous stars known to science, making it an excellent candidate for a supernova.
- Historical records reveal that about 170 years ago, the star underwent a significant outburst, known as the Great Eruption, which temporarily made it one of the brightest stars in the southern sky.
- This event created the Homunculus Nebula, a distinctive hourglass-shaped cloud of gas and dust that surrounds the star.
- It is the only known star to emit natural laser light, adding to its enigmatic nature.
- Recently the Hubble Space Telescope highlighted the intricate details of the surrounding nebula, including diffraction spikes and radial streaks, which remain unexplained.
- Eta Carinae’s eventual supernova will be a monumental event, potentially outshining any supernova observed in recent history, including SN 2006gy.
- When it does explode, it will provide an extraordinary light show visible from Earth and offer invaluable insights into the life cycles of massive stars.
