What is Eta Carinae?
Q: What is Eta Carinae?
A: Eta Carinae is a superbright hypergiant star system located in the constellation Carina, about 7,500 to 8,000 light-years from the Sun.
Q: Does Eta Carinae contain more than one star?
A: Yes, Eta Carinae contains at least two stars, the primary being a luminous blue variable (LBV) and a hot supergiant star in orbit around it.
Q: What is the mass of the primary star in Eta Carinae?
A: The primary star in Eta Carinae initially had around 150 solar masses, of which it has lost at least 30.
Q: What is the Homunculus nebula?
A: The Homunculus nebula is a thick red nebula surrounding Eta Carinae, formed by two stars. It is also part of the much larger Carina nebula.
Q: Is the companion star in Eta Carinae visible through optical telescopes?
A: No, the enormous thick red nebula surrounding Eta Carinae makes it impossible to see the companion optically.
Q: How luminous are Eta Carinae and the Homunculus nebula?
A: Eta Carinae and the Homunculus nebula have a combined luminosity of over five million times the Sun's.
Q: Is it expected for Eta Carinae to explode as a supernova in the future?
A: Yes, due to its mass and the stage of its life, it is expected for Eta Carinae to explode as a supernova in the future.
