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Description:
Eta Carinae is one of the most massive and enigmatic stellar systems in the Milky Way, located about 7,500 light-years from Earth in the Carina constellation.
It is the bright star in middle of the image, to the left of the dark > shape.
This binary system consists of at least two massive stars, with the primary star being a luminous blue variable (LBV) estimated to be more than 100 times the mass of the Sun.
The system is highly unstable and has undergone dramatic outbursts, the most famous being the Great Eruption of the 19th century.
Eta Carinae resides within the larger Carina Nebula (NGC 3372), a vast star-forming region filled with young, hot stars, gas clouds, and dark nebulae. This region is one of the most active stellar nurseries in our galaxy and is home to several other massive stars that will eventually go supernova.
Eta Carinae is of particular interest to astronomers because it is expected to explode as a supernova—or even a hypernova—within the next few hundred thousand years. Such an explosion would have profound effects on the surrounding nebula and could be visible from Earth even in daylight. Its extreme luminosity, powerful stellar winds, and volatile history make it a key subject in the study of stellar evolution and massive star death..
