Angular size of light blue cloud is approximately 8 arc seconds

Chandra's X-ray image of Eta Carinae reveals a hot inner core around this mysterious superstar. The new X-ray observation shows three distinct structures: an outer, horseshoe shaped ring about two light years in diameter, a hot inner core about 3 light months in diameter, and a hot central source less than a light month in diameter which may contain the superstar.

All three structures are thought to represent shock waves produced by matter rushing away from the superstar at supersonic speeds. The temperature of the shock-heated gas ranges from 60 million degrees Celsius in the central regions to 3 million degrees Celsius on the outer edge.

JAngular size of bipolar nebula = 18 arc seconds

The optical image of Eta Carinae's made by the Hubble Space Telescope reveals two spectacular bubbles of gas expanding in opposite directions away from a central bright region at speeds in excess of a million miles per hour. The inner region visible in the Chandra image has never been resolved before, and appears to be associated with a central disk of high velocity gas rushing out at much higher speeds perpendicular to the bipolar optical nebula.

Inset box = 20 arc seconds on a side
NASA/CXC/SAO/HST

The inset box with the optical image of Eta Carinae illustrates its location relative to the inner region of the X-ray image.

18 micron IR image. Angular size of nebula is approximately 18 arc seconds

Eta Carinae is also the most luminous known star in our galaxy. It radiates energy at a rate that is 5 million times that of the Sun. Most of this energy is radiated at infrared wavelengths. It is shrouded in a rapidly expanding cloud of dust which absorbs radiation from the central star and re-radiates it in the infrared.

Angular size of nebula is approximately 18 arc seconds

This radio image of Eta Carinae (frequency = 5 Ghz) shows much the same overall structure as the optical image. The bright feature at the center of the radio image is where the star is: the emission here is effectively "burnt out". In recent years Eta Carinae has undergone a radio outburst which makes it one of the brightest radio stars in the sky.

Revised: May 17, 2022