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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.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; etacarinae; science
1
posted on
12/30/2012 8:19:09 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
2
posted on
12/30/2012 8:19:55 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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.)
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)
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 :-)
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!)
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!)
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.)
To: SunkenCiv
9
posted on
12/30/2012 9:26:12 AM PST
by
GeronL
(http://asspos.blogspot.com)
To: left that other site
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 ;-{)
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.)
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.)
To: SunkenCiv
Captain! Eta Carinae’s gonna blow!
Reverse course! Warp 9! Engage!
[sorry - too much watching Star Trek, Next Generation, and Voyager]
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