|
Credit & Copyright: NASA, HST, WFPC2, J. Hester (ASU)
Explanation:
The star Eta Carinae, at the center of the photo, will likely destroy
itself in a spectacular explosion in a few million years - or sooner!
Currently it is one of the brightest, most massive, and least stable
stars known. Much of the gas in this Hubble Space Telescope photograph
was blown off the star itself. Some of these gas clouds are similar in size
to our solar system. Astronomers cannot yet fully explain the motions
of the surrounding nebula, and continue to study this system.
Reference: the Space Telescope Scientific Institute's press release.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day