在劫难逃的海山二

2023年7月9日

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

在劫难逃的海山二
影像提供与版权: NASA, ESA, Hubble; 影像处理与授权: Judy Schmidt

说明: 船底座的海山二或许即将爆炸，然而没人知道会是何时，也许就在明年，或许在1百万年后。海山二的质量大约是太阳的100多倍，这让它成为大型超新星的最佳候选者之一。据历史记载，大约在170年前海山二曾经历一次不寻常的爆发，成为南半球天空中最明亮的恒星之一。位在锁孔星云里的海山二，是现知唯一会辐射自然激光的恒星。这张主题影像，突显了这颗放纵不羁恒星周围不寻常星云的细微结构，而从海山二星云中心伸出的明亮多彩径向线形构造，则是望远镜所造成的绕射芒。环拱炽热中心区的侏儒星云之鲜明双瓣结构，上头有一些向影像右方伸展的奇特径向泛红条纹。不过这些径向纹的成因为何，目前仍然不明。此外，塞满整个双瓣结的气体与尘埃带，更吸掉了源自中央附近的蓝光与紫外光。 (Eta Carinae 海山二)

明日的图片: stellar pandemonium