MSGID: 1:153/757.0 573ff154   
   TZUTC: -0700   
   CHRS: LATIN-1 2   
                           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   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.   
                   NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices   
                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6   
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/0 90/1 105/81 106/201 123/131 129/305 134/100 153/135   
   SEEN-BY: 153/143 757 802 6809 7715 218/700 840 221/1 6 226/30 227/114   
   SEEN-BY: 229/110 112 113 206 307 317 400 426 428 470 664 700 240/1120   
   SEEN-BY: 266/512 282/1038 291/111 301/1 113 812 317/3 320/219 322/757   
   SEEN-BY: 335/364 341/66 342/200 396/45 460/58 256 1124 633/280 712/848   
   SEEN-BY: 5020/1042 5054/30 5075/35   
   PATH: 153/757 221/6 301/1 460/58 229/426