Astronomers are closely monitoring Eta Carinae, a hypergiant star with a mass about 100 times that of the Sun, as it approaches a likely explosion. Despite its unstable history, predicting the exact timing of Eta Carinae’s supernova remains difficult, with possibilities ranging from next year to a million years from now. The star’s immense mass and instability mean it is constantly near the Eddington limit, where radiation pressure almost balances gravitational pull, making it prone to dramatic outbursts and collapse.
Eta Carinae’s potential for a supernova has long intrigued scientists. Historical records indicate that about 170 years ago, the star underwent a significant outburst known as the Great Eruption, which briefly made it one of the brightest stars in the southern sky and led to the formation of the Homunculus Nebula, an hourglass-shaped cloud of gas and dust.
Located roughly 7,500 light-years away in the Carina Nebula, Eta Carinae is one of the most massive and luminous stars known, making it a prime candidate for a supernova. Recent Hubble Space Telescope images reveal intricate details of the surrounding nebula, including unexplained diffraction spikes and radial streaks.
Adding to its mystery, Eta Carinae is the only known star to emit natural laser light. When it eventually explodes, it is expected to produce an extraordinary light show, potentially outshining any recent supernova like SN 2006gy. This event will not only provide a spectacular display visible from Earth but also offer valuable insights into the life cycles of massive stars.
For now, scientists continue to study Eta Carinae using advanced telescopes and simulations to understand its behavior and prepare for its eventual explosion, which promises to be one of the most significant astronomical events of our era.