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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Doomed Star Eta Carinae
NASA ^ | December 30, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 12/30/2012 8:19:01 AM PST by SunkenCiv

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 150 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 image, taken in 1996, brought out new details in the unusual nebula that surrounds this rogue star. Now clearly visible are two distinct lobes, a hot central region, and strange radial streaks. The lobes are filled with lanes of gas and dust which absorb the blue and ultraviolet light emitted near the center. The streaks remain unexplained.

December 30, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; etacarinae; science
[Credit: J. Morse (Arizona State U.), K. Davidson (U. Minnesota) et al., WFPC2, HST, NASA]

1 posted on 12/30/2012 8:19:09 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

One of my all-time favorites, this one may be an oldie, but it remains a goodie. And it's a two-list pingworthy pic.
APOD Editors to Speak: RJN in Philadelphia on Jan. 3 & JTB in New York City on Jan. 4

2 posted on 12/30/2012 8:19:55 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: 75thOVI; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AndrewC; aragorn; aristotleman; Avoiding_Sulla; ...

How could I *not* ping the list? ;') Anna Karenina, uh, Eta Carinae "may be about to explode", it sez here.


3 posted on 12/30/2012 8:22:39 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

And yet there are those who won’t even acknowledge the *possibility* of God’s existence.


4 posted on 12/30/2012 8:31:41 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (When Robbing Peter To Pay Paul,One Can Always Count On Paul's Cooperation)
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To: SunkenCiv
Thanks, for the ping/photo.

5 posted on 12/30/2012 8:38:48 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (who'll take tomorrow,spend it all today;who can take your income,tax it all away..0'Bozo man can :-)
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To: SunkenCiv

About 8000 light years distant I believe.


6 posted on 12/30/2012 8:55:25 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Looks like it exploded over 8000 years ago...


7 posted on 12/30/2012 9:10:57 AM PST by Spitzensparkin1 (Arrest and deport all illegal aliens. Americans demand those jobs back! Whooorah, Arizona!)
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To: SunkenCiv

KA-BOOOM!!!



LOL.
8 posted on 12/30/2012 9:15:07 AM PST by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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To: SunkenCiv

bump

cool pic


9 posted on 12/30/2012 9:26:12 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: left that other site

Great tagline!


10 posted on 12/30/2012 9:29:53 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Ban liberalism, not liberty.)
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To: SunkenCiv

11 posted on 12/30/2012 9:34:46 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas exercitus gerit ;-{)
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To: EternalVigilance

Why Thank You!

Happy New Year!


12 posted on 12/30/2012 9:35:09 AM PST by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Super Nova bump.


13 posted on 12/30/2012 9:35:29 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Captain! Eta Carinae’s gonna blow!

Reverse course! Warp 9! Engage!

[sorry - too much watching Star Trek, Next Generation, and Voyager]


14 posted on 12/30/2012 12:35:57 PM PST by TheOldLady
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