A Superstar’s Stellar Fireworks Show

Eta Carinae exploded long ago and may have already exploded again. The Hubble Space Telescope gets the most detailed look yet.

Eta Carinae in all its glory. Image:
NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of Arizona, Tucson), and J. Morse (BoldlyGo Institute, New York)

Astronomers love Eta Carinae, a relatively nearby superstar that exploded nearly two centuries ago, and has since offered humans a ringside seat to a spectacular cosmic display. Now the Hubble…