Astronomy Digital Picture – Photograph from a normal digital camera, and a short summary of the photo
28 Jan 2007
Eta Carinae was first recorded by Sir Edmond Halley as a 4th magnitude star in 1677. However, it has changed greatly in brightness ever since, reaching 2nd magnitude in 1730 then repeatedly falling and rising in brightness
In 1843, Eta Carinae had a “Great Eruption”, when it brightened to outshine every star in Earth’s night sky except for Sirius, reaching a maximum magnitude of -0.8 and was one of the most luminous stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Despite releasing as much visible light as a supernova explosion, the star survived.
Eta Carinae is one of the most massive stars in the universe, with probably more than 100 solar masses. Eta Carinae is expected to explode as a supernova or hypernova after about 1 million years or less from now, but as its current age is uncertain, it could “go any time now.”
Tomorrow’s picture – Constellation Cassiopeia
Posted by naveenln 
Astronomy Digital Picture of the Day 