Eta Carinae

Eta Carinae is a massive, luminous star system located in the Carina constellation, about 7,500 light-years away. It consists of two stars orbiting each other, with one being extremely large and bright. The system is famous for its dramatic past; in the 1800s, it experienced a huge eruption that expelled a vast amount of gas and dust, forming a bright nebula called the Homunculus. Eta Carinae is still active and unstable, with powerful stellar winds and potential for a supernova explosion in the distant future. Its study helps scientists understand how massive stars evolve and end their lives.