The Violent Star Eta Carinae Model Is Based On Multiwavelength Observations
The star Eta Carinae rapidly faded into obscurity after its quick outburst. Now, over a century and a half later on, NASA area observatories (penetrating from infrared light through X-rays) have made it possible for artists and astronomers to put together a three-dimensional model of the Homunculus Nebula and accompanying clouds of dust and gas enshrouding the petulant star.
Visualization Explores a Massive Stars Great Eruption
A new astronomical visualization from NASAs Universe of Learning showcases the multiwavelength emissions (from infrared light through X-rays) and three-dimensional structures surrounding Eta Carinae, one of the most enormous and eruptive stars in our galaxy. The video, “Eta Carinae: The Great Eruption of a Massive Star,” was released today. (See video embedded above.).
Eta Carinae, or Eta Car, is popular for a uncommon and fantastic outburst, called the “Great Eruption,” observed in the 1840s. This briefly made it among the brightest stars in the night sky, launching almost as much noticeable light as a supernova surge.
The star made it through the outburst, and gradually faded away for the next 5 years. The main cause of this brightness change is a little nebula of gas and dust, called the Homunculus Nebula, that was expelled throughout the blast, and has actually obstructed the light of the star.
Observations using NASAs Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory expose the information in visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray light. Astronomers and artists at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland have developed three-dimensional designs to represent the hourglass shape of the Homunculus and the clouds of radiant gas that include it. The result is a stunning trip of the embedded emissions that brings the 2D images to 3D life.
” The group did such a fantastic task representing the volumetric layers that viewers can right away and intuitively understand the intricate structure around Eta Car,” said Frank Summers, primary visualization scientist at STScI and task lead. “We can not just tell the story of the Great Eruption, however also display the resulting nebula in 3D.”.
In addition, Eta Car is incredibly bright at infrared wavelengths, and its radiation impacts the much bigger Carina Nebula where it resides. Working with NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope observations, the team had the ability to position Eta Car in context of the stunning infrared view of the star-forming region.
” Spitzers infrared image lets us peer through the dust that obscures our view in noticeable light to expose the detailed details and degree of the Carina Nebula around this brilliant star,” commented Robert Hurt, lead visualization scientist at Caltech/IPAC and staff member.
Extending the objectives of NASAs Universe of Learning, the visualization assets promote finding out beyond the video series. “We can take these designs like the one for Eta Car and use them in 3D printing and augmented truth programs,” kept in mind Kim Arcand, visualization lead scientist at the Chandra X-ray Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “This implies more individuals can put their hands on the data– actually and essentially– and this produces better learning and engagement.”.
Eta Carinae is among the most massive stars understood. These extraordinary stars are susceptible to outbursts throughout their lives. They will end their lives by collapsing into a great void, probably accompanied by a supernova surge. Eta Car is among the nearby and best studied examples for discovering the energetic life and death of very massive stars.
Desire to find out more? The visualization video and extensive related resources, which will consist of an upcoming Universe of Learning online live chat with Summers about the visualization, can be discovered at https://universeunplugged.ipac.caltech.edu/video/astroviz-eta-car.
NASAs Universe of Learning is part of the NASA Science Activation program. The Science Activation program links NASA science experts, real material and experiences, and community leaders in such a way that triggers minds and promotes much deeper understanding of our world and beyond. Using its direct connection to the science and the experts behind the science, NASAs Universe of Learning supplies resources and experiences that allow youth, families, and long-lasting learners to explore essential questions in science, experience how science is done, and find deep space on their own.
NASAs Universe of Learning products are based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative arrangement award number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, operating in collaboration with Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics|Harvard & & Smithsonian, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The star Eta Carinae rapidly faded into obscurity after its short outburst. A new huge visualization from NASAs Universe of Learning showcases the multiwavelength emissions (from infrared light through X-rays) and three-dimensional structures surrounding Eta Carinae, one of the most eruptive and enormous stars in our galaxy. The video, “Eta Carinae: The Great Eruption of a Massive Star,” was launched today. Eta Carinae is one of the most enormous stars understood. Eta Car is one of the closest and finest studied examples for learning about the energetic life and death of extremely enormous stars.