Mandatory Credit: Photo by NASA/ESA/Hubble/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (14626118a)
August 7, 2024 - Deep Space - 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. The streaks, however, remain unexplained.
Doomed Star Eta Carinae, Deep Space - 07 Aug 2024