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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on December 29, 2011, 15:45

Title: Echoes From η Carinae’s Great Eruption
Post by: sam on December 29, 2011, 15:45

http://www.universetoday.com/92181/echoes-from-carinaes-great-eruption/

Quote

During the mid 1800′s, the well known star η Carinae underwent an enormous eruption becoming for a time, the second brightest star in the sky. Although astronomers at the time did not yet have the technology to study one of the largest eruptions in recent history in depth, astronomers from the Space Telescope Science Institute recently discovered that light echoes are just now reaching us. This discovery allows astronomers to use modern instruments to study η Carinae as it was between 1838 and 1858 when it underwent its Great Eruption.

Title: Re: Echoes From η Carinae’s Great Eruption
Post by: Clive on December 29, 2011, 19:01

What an amazing picture!  The star is very unstable and astronomers expect it to explode as a supernova at some point in the future.  If that happens within our lifetime then we will have to travel to the southern hemisphere to observe it. 

Title: Re: Echoes From η Carinae’s Great Eruption
Post by: sam on December 29, 2011, 22:19

Definitely worth a trip down under

Title: Re: Echoes From η Carinae’s Great Eruption
Post by: Clive on December 30, 2011, 10:36

And there will be no problem recognising it!   :laugh: