The highly unstable star Eta Carinae (artist's impression)

Artist's impression of the unstable star Eta Carinae, based on the new knowledge gained from measurements with the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). The inner elongated shape is the central star, as it would be visible in the absence of the stellar wind. The larger rugby-ball shape indicates the region where the strong stellar wind becomes opaque to VINCI. The longer axis of the system is found to coincide with the direction of the bipolar outflow, both on large and small scales.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0336b
Type:Artwork
Release date:18 November 2003
Related releases:eso0336
Size:2297 x 2381 px

About the Object

Name:Eta Carinae
Type:Milky Way : Star : Type : Wolf-Rayet
Distance:7500 light years
Category:Illustrations

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