Skip to comments.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
NASA ^
| 6/17/08
| N. Smith
Posted on 06/17/2008 2:11:18 PM PDT by sig226

Eta Carinae and the Homunculus Nebula
Credit: N. Smith, J. A. Morse (U. Colorado) et al., NASA
Explanation: How did the star Eta Carinae create this unusual nebula? No one knows for sure. About 165 years ago, the southern star Eta Carinae mysteriously became the second brightest star in the night sky. In 20 years, after ejecting more mass than our Sun, Eta Car unexpected faded. This outburst appears to have created the Homunculus Nebula, pictured above in a composite image from the Hubble Space Telescope taken last decade. Visible in the above image center is purple-tinted light reflected from the violent star Eta Carinae itself. Surrounding this star are expanding lobes of gas laced with filaments of dark dust. Jets bisect the lobes emanating from the central star. Surrounding these lobes are red-tinted debris captured only by its glow in a narrow band of red light. This debris is expanding most quickly of all, and includes streaming whiskers and bow shocks caused by collisions with previously existing material. Eta Car still undergoes unexpected outbursts, and its high mass and volatility make it a candidate to explode in a spectacular supernova sometime in the next few million years.
TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day
KEYWORDS: apod
like, wow, man
1
posted on
06/17/2008 2:11:23 PM PDT
by
sig226
To: fnord; Number57; KevinDavis; rdb3; MNJohnnie; thoughtomator; RightWhale; proudofthesouth; ...
2
posted on
06/17/2008 2:12:31 PM PDT
by
sig226
(Real power is not the ability to destroy an enemy. It is the willingness to do it.)
To: sig226
one of my fave objects..
al gore’s brain on carbon credits
3
posted on
06/17/2008 2:14:26 PM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
To: sig226
Whew.
“This is your galaxy on drugs.”
To: sig226
Could you add me to this ping list. Thanks.
5
posted on
06/17/2008 2:15:56 PM PDT
by
randomhero97
("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
To: sig226
Anyone on a planet orbiting Eta Carinae has issues to deal with bigger than Global Warming.
6
posted on
06/17/2008 2:16:18 PM PDT
by
6SJ7
To: sig226
Sonogram reveals it's a boy!!
7
posted on
06/17/2008 2:18:06 PM PDT
by
The Citizen Soldier
(Electing a bad Senator will not produce a good President. - Clinton, Obama or McCain)
To: sig226
8
posted on
06/17/2008 2:20:56 PM PDT
by
ArchAngel1983
(Arch Angel- on guard)
To: sig226
Kirk:
You are in error!
Nomad: I am not in error. I am perfect.
9
posted on
06/17/2008 2:26:51 PM PDT
by
Steely Tom
(Without the second, the rest are just politicians' BS.)
To: sig226
I hope nobody lived around that star.
10
posted on
06/17/2008 2:37:18 PM PDT
by
mowowie
To: mowowie
“I hope nobody lived around that star.”
Only the homunculi lived there - -.
11
posted on
06/17/2008 2:41:57 PM PDT
by
GladesGuru
(In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
To: sig226
So how large is this thing?
12
posted on
06/17/2008 2:44:22 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
("I Believe In The Law Until It Interferes With Justice")
To: sig226
SG-1 blew up a star years ago. (yawn)
To: sig226
Whoo-eee...gonna need some serious SPF lotion in that neighborhood. Maybe even an umbrella. BTT.
To: sig226
About 165 years ago, the southern star Eta Carinae mysteriously became the second brightest star in the night sky.
Where is Sherlock Holmes when we need him?
15
posted on
06/17/2008 5:04:12 PM PDT
by
SouthDixie
(We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.)
To: sig226

Homuna, homuna, homuna...
16
posted on
06/17/2008 5:27:11 PM PDT
by
mikrofon
(Homunucula, Humonuculi)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson