                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2023 July 9
   A Hubble image of the gas and dust surrounding the star Eta Carinae is
    shown. The nebula has two distinct light-colored lobes, surrounded by
        red glowing gas. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                           Doomed Star Eta Carinae
   Image Credit & Copyright: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & License: Judy
                                   Schmidt

   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 - 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. Diffraction spikes,
   caused by the telescope, are visible as bright multi-colored streaks
   emanating from Eta Carinae's center. Two distinct lobes of the
   Homunculus Nebula encompass the hot central region, while some strange
   radial streaks are visible in red extending toward the image right. The
   lobes are filled with lanes of gas and dust which absorb the blue and
   ultraviolet light emitted near the center. The streaks, however, remain
   unexplained.

                   Tomorrow's picture: stellar pandemonium
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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