Shocking Detail of Superstar's Activity Revealed
Eta Carinae is the most luminous star known in our galaxy. It radiates energy at a rate that is 5 million times that of the Sun. Observations indicate that Eta Carinae is an unstable star that is rapidly boiling matter off its surface. Some astronomers think that it could explode as a supernova any time! At a distance of 7,000 light years from Earth, this gigantic explosion would pose no threat to life but it would be quite a show.
Multi-wavelength Images: (*Images not to scale) | |||
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X-ray
![]() Jpg (50 k) Tiff (3.5 M) PS (1.6 M) |
Optical
![]() J. Morse/K. Davidson JPG (252 k) Tiff (4.4 M) PS (3.4 M) |
Infrared![]() Jpg (78 k) Tiff (1.8 M) PS (1.0 M) |
Radio![]() (S. White el al) Jpg (25 k) Tiff (869 k) PS (3.4 M) |
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A Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the star and nebula Eta Carinae is presented, which features a bright blue glowing source in the center. The overall color of the image around the blue source is predominantly pale orange and brown, with small, very faint dots of brown green scattered throughout the background. The structure of Eta Carinae consists of an expanding shell of gas and dust around the central star, like a partial hug around the glowing blue source. Eta Carinae is the most luminous star known in our galaxy. It radiates energy at a rate that is 5 million times that of the Sun. Observations indicate that Eta Carinae is an unstable star that is rapidly boiling matter off its surface. Some astronomers think that it could explode as a supernova any time. At a distance of 7,000 light years from Earth, this gigantic explosion would pose no threat to life but it would be quite a show.