An international team of astronomers has developed a 3D model of a giant cloud ejected by the massive binary system Eta Carinae during its 19th century outburst. Eta Carinae lies about 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Carina and is one of the most massive binary systems astronomers can study in detail. The smaller star is about 30 times the mass of the sun and may be as much as a million times more luminous. The primary star contains about 90 solar masses and emits 5 million times the sun's energy output. Both stars are fated to end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions.
Between 1838 and 1845, Eta Carinae underwent a period of unusual variability during which it briefly outshone Canopus, normally the second-brightest star. As a part of this event, which astronomers call the Great Eruption, a gaseous shell containing at least 10 and perhaps as much as 40 times the sun's mass was shot into space. This material forms a twin-lobed dust-filled cloud known as the Homunculus Nebula, which is now about a light-year long and continues to expand at more than 1.3 million mph (2.1 million km/h).
Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and its X-Shooter spectrograph, the team imaged near-infrared, visible and ultraviolet wavelengths along 92 separate swaths across the nebula, making the most complete spectral map to date. The researchers have used the spatial and velocity information provided by this data to create the first high-resolution 3D model of the Homunculus Nebula.
The shape model was developed using only a single emission line of near-infrared light emitted by molecular hydrogen gas. The characteristic 2.12-micron light shifts in wavelength slightly depending on the speed and direction of the expanding gas, allowing the team to probe even dust-obscured portions of the Homunculus that face away from Earth.
",
"items": [],
"extra_data": {}
},
{
"id": 344673,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344673",
"widget": "Video player",
"title": "",
"caption": "",
"description": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.
Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.
For complete transcript, click here.", "items": [ { "id": 304361, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454544, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Comp_v04.2664.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Comp_v04.2664.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304362, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454546, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Comp_v04.2664_web.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Comp_v04.2664_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 304352, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454540, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/11568_Eta_Car_Model_ProRes_1280x720_59.94.mov", "filename": "11568_Eta_Car_Model_ProRes_1280x720_59.94.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304353, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454543, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/11568_Eta_Car_Model_H264_Best_1280x720_59.94.mov", "filename": "11568_Eta_Car_Model_H264_Best_1280x720_59.94.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304354, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454542, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/11568_Eta_Car_Model_H264_Good_1280x720_29.97.mov", "filename": "11568_Eta_Car_Model_H264_Good_1280x720_29.97.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304355, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454539, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_youtube_hq.mov", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_youtube_hq.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304356, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454547, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_1280x720.wmv", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_1280x720.wmv", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304357, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454541, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/11568_Eta_Car_Model_MPEG4_1280x720_29.97.mp4", "filename": "11568_Eta_Car_Model_MPEG4_1280x720_29.97.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 304358, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454537, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv.m4v", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv.m4v", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } }, { "id": 304363, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454548, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv.webmhd.webm", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } }, { "id": 304366, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454549, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv_subtitles.m4v", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_appletv_subtitles.m4v", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } }, { "id": 304359, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454545, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_ipod_lg.m4v", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_ipod_lg.m4v", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 640, "height": 360, "pixels": 230400 } }, { "id": 304364, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 853275, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Carinae_Model_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt", "filename": "Eta_Carinae_Model_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "label": "English", "language_code": "" } }, { "id": 304365, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 853276, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Carinae_Model_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt", "filename": "Eta_Carinae_Model_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "label": "English", "language_code": "" } }, { "id": 304360, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454538, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_ipod_sm.mp4", "filename": "G2014-056_Eta_Car_Model_Final_ipod_sm.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicists Ted Gull and Tom Madura discuss Eta Carinae and their new model of the Homunculus Nebula, a shell of gas and dust ejected during the star's mid-19th century eruption.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 320, "height": 240, "pixels": 76800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344674, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344674", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab
Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "items": [ { "id": 304372, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454554, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_STILL.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_STILL.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304373, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454556, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_STILL_searchweb.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_STILL_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 304374, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454557, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_STILL_web.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_STILL_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 304375, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454558, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_STILL_thm.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_STILL_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 304367, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454553, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_ProRes_1920x1080_60.mov", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_ProRes_1920x1080_60.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304368, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454555, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/frames/1920x1080_16x9_60p/", "filename": "1920x1080_16x9_60p", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304369, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454552, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_H264_Best_1920x1080_60.mov", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_H264_Best_1920x1080_60.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304370, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454551, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_H264_Good_1920x1080_29.97.mov", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_H264_Good_1920x1080_29.97.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304371, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454550, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_MPEG4_1920x1080_29.97.mp4", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_MPEG4_1920x1080_29.97.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 304376, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454559, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_MPEG4_1920x1080_29.97.webmhd.webm", "filename": "EtaCarinae_Animation1_v03_MPEG4_1920x1080_29.97.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation sequence zooms into a Hubble image of the Homunculus Nebula, then dissolves to the shape model, which rotates to provide views from various angles. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI LabWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344675, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344675", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "items": [ { "id": 304378, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454561, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Model_Loop2.gif", "filename": "Eta_Car_Model_Loop2.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 640, "height": 640, "pixels": 409600 } }, { "id": 304379, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454563, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Model_Loop_half.gif", "filename": "Eta_Car_Model_Loop_half.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 640, "height": 640, "pixels": 409600 } }, { "id": 304381, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454560, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Gif__Still.jpg", "filename": "Eta_Car_Gif__Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304382, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454565, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Gif__Still_web.png", "filename": "Eta_Car_Gif__Still_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } }, { "id": 304377, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454564, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Loop_ProRes.mov", "filename": "Eta_Car_Loop_ProRes.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304380, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454562, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Gif__Still.tiff", "filename": "Eta_Car_Gif__Still.tiff", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304383, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454566, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Loop_ProRes.webmhd.webm", "filename": "Eta_Car_Loop_ProRes.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344676, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344676", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "items": [ { "id": 304388, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454569, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded.jpg", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304389, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454571, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded_web.png", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } }, { "id": 304384, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454567, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded_ProRes4444.mov", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded_ProRes4444.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304385, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454573, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded_H264.mov", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded_H264.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304386, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454570, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/frames/1280x1280_1x1_30p/Shaded/", "filename": "Shaded", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304387, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454568, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded.tiff", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded.tiff", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304390, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454572, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Shaded_ProRes4444.webmhd.webm", "filename": "Eta_Car_Shaded_ProRes4444.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a shaded version of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344677, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344677", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "items": [ { "id": 304395, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454574, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe.jpg", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304396, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454578, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe_web.png", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } }, { "id": 304391, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454575, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe_ProRes4444.mov", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe_ProRes4444.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304392, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454580, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe_H264.mov", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe_H264.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304393, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454577, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/frames/1280x1280_1x1_30p/Wireframe/", "filename": "Wireframe", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304394, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454576, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe.tiff", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe.tiff", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 1280, "height": 1280, "pixels": 1638400 } }, { "id": 304397, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454579, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/Eta_Car_Wireframe_ProRes4444.webmhd.webm", "filename": "Eta_Car_Wireframe_ProRes4444.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This brief animation rotates a wireframe rendition of the model around a single axis.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344678, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344678", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Labeled version. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "items": [ { "id": 304398, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454582, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_model_comparison_labels.jpg", "filename": "EtaCarinae_model_comparison_labels.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Labeled version. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "width": 4308, "height": 2423, "pixels": 10438284 } }, { "id": 304399, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454581, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_model_comparison_labels_web.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_model_comparison_labels_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Labeled version. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "width": 320, "height": 179, "pixels": 57280 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344679, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344679", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Unlabeled version of above. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "items": [ { "id": 304400, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454584, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_model_comparison_no_labels.jpg", "filename": "EtaCarinae_model_comparison_no_labels.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of above. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "width": 4308, "height": 2423, "pixels": 10438284 } }, { "id": 304401, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 454583, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/EtaCarinae_model_comparison_no_labels_web.png", "filename": "EtaCarinae_model_comparison_no_labels_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of above. A new shape model of the Homunculus Nebula reveals protrusions, trenches, holes and irregularities in its molecular hydrogen emission. The protrusions appear near a dust skirt seen at the nebula's center in visible light (inset) but not found in this study, so they constitute different structures. These features provide the first evidence of the central binary's strong — and perhaps continuing — influence on the expanding cloud. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; inset: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team", "width": 320, "height": 179, "pixels": 57280 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344680, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344680", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Click here to download the model for 3D printing.
Credit: Steffen, W., Teodoro, M., Madura, T., et al. (2014)",
"items": [
{
"id": 304402,
"type": "media",
"extra_data": null,
"title": null,
"caption": null,
"instance": {
"id": 454585,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/model.jpg",
"filename": "model.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Click here to download the model for 3D printing.Credit: Steffen, W., Teodoro, M., Madura, T., et al. (2014)",
"width": 640,
"height": 580,
"pixels": 371200
}
},
{
"id": 304403,
"type": "media",
"extra_data": null,
"title": null,
"caption": null,
"instance": {
"id": 454586,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011500/a011568/model_web.png",
"filename": "model_web.png",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Click here to download the model for 3D printing.Credit: Steffen, W., Teodoro, M., Madura, T., et al. (2014)",
"width": 320,
"height": 290,
"pixels": 92800
}
}
],
"extra_data": {}
},
{
"id": 344681,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344681",
"widget": "Basic text with HTML",
"title": "",
"caption": "",
"description": "
Cut-and-assemble display stand scaled for a 3.15 inch (80 mm) model.
Cut-and-assemble display stand scaled for a 2.36 inch (60 mm) model.
", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 344682, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11568/#media_group_344682", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/astronomers-bring-the-third-dimension-to-a-doomed-stars-outburst/](http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/astronomers-bring-the-third-dimension-to-a-doomed-stars-outburst/)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Astrophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Animator", "people": [ { "name": "Brian Monroe", "employer": "USRA" }, { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Video editor", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Project support", "people": [ { "name": "Aaron E. Lepsch", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Videographer", "people": [ { "name": "Rob Andreoli", "employer": "Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Writer", "people": [ { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "Syneren Technologies" } ] } ], "missions": [], "series": [ "Astrophysics Animations", "Astrophysics Features", "Astrophysics Stills", "Narrated Movies" ], "tapes": [ "Eta Carinae 3D Model (Produced by: Robert Crippen)" ], "papers": [ "http://mnras.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/mnras/stu1088", "http://mnras.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/mnras/stu1088" ], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "HDTV" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 11725, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11725/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA Missions Take an Unparalleled Look into Superstar Eta Carinae", "description": "Explore Eta Carinae from the inside out with the help of supercomputer simulations and data from NASA satellites and ground-based observatories. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here. || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920.jpg (1920x1080) [804.4 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920_print.jpg (1024x576) [52.0 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL.jpg (4928x2772) [874.1 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL.png (4928x2772) [36.6 MB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920_web.jpg (320x180) [13.1 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920_searchweb.png (320x180) [55.9 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920_thm.png (80x40) [8.0 KB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920.tiff (1920x1080) [11.9 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_appletv.webm (960x540) [30.5 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [43.2 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary.en_US.vtt [5.2 KB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary.en_US.srt [5.2 KB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [22.8 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_appletv_subtitles.m4v (960x540) [103.9 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_appletv.m4v (960x540) [104.0 MB] || G2015-001_Eta_Car_Binary_Final_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [107.6 MB] || 11725_Eta_Car_Binary2_MPEG4_1920X1080_2997.mp4 (1920x1080) [116.9 MB] || 11725_Eta_Car_Binary2_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [3.5 GB] || 11725_Eta_Car_Binary2_H264_Best_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [2.6 GB] || 11725_Eta_Car_Binary2_H264_Good_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [506.2 MB] || Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL.tiff (4928x2772) [104.2 MB] || ", "release_date": "2015-01-07T13:15:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:50:09.860356-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 447543, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011700/a011725/Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920.jpg", "filename": "Eta_Car_Density_XY_R10_R100_STILL_1920.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore Eta Carinae from the inside out with the help of supercomputer simulations and data from NASA satellites and ground-based observatories. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 11722, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11722/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Supercomputer Simulations of Eta Carinae", "description": "Density simulation. This movie shows a wide view of the system looking down on the orbital plane of the two stars, which are located at the center. The view spans 3,200 times the average distance between Earth and the sun, or 298 billion miles (478 billion kilometers). Lighter colors indicate greater densities, with the highest densities occurring near the primary and in the wind interaction region. The faster wind of the smaller star carves a spiral cavity into the dense wind of the primary star, and this structure expands outward with the primary wind at about 1 million mph (1.6 million km/h. || R100_density_xy_axes_and_colorbar_print.jpg (1024x1024) [84.9 KB] || R100_density_xy_axes_and_colorbar.png (4096x4096) [2.8 MB] || R100_density_xy_axes_and_colorbar_web.jpg (320x320) [17.8 KB] || Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_H264_Good_1024x1024_searchweb.png (320x180) [57.8 KB] || Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_H264_Good_1024x1024.mov (1024x1024) [3.8 MB] || Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_H264_Good_1024x1024.webm (1024x1024) [2.4 MB] || Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_4k.mov (4096x4096) [876.4 MB] || ", "release_date": "2015-01-07T13:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-06-23T00:17:00.804454-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 447873, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011700/a011722/Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_H264_Good_1024x1024_searchweb.png", "filename": "Eta_Car_R100_Density_XY_H264_Good_1024x1024_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Density simulation. This movie shows a wide view of the system looking down on the orbital plane of the two stars, which are located at the center. The view spans 3,200 times the average distance between Earth and the sun, or 298 billion miles (478 billion kilometers). Lighter colors indicate greater densities, with the highest densities occurring near the primary and in the wind interaction region. The faster wind of the smaller star carves a spiral cavity into the dense wind of the primary star, and this structure expands outward with the primary wind at about 1 million mph (1.6 million km/h.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 11639, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11639/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Mini Nebula", "description": "Eta Carinae lies about 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Carina and is one of the most massive binary star systems in our Milky Way galaxy. In the middle of the 19th century, it underwent an explosion that astronomers call the Great Eruption. As a part of this event, a gaseous shell containing at least 10 and perhaps as much as 40 times the sun's mass was shot into space. Using new observations, astronomers created the first high-resolution 3-D model of the expanding cloud produced by this outburst. The model suggests the twin-lobed dust-filled cloud known as the Homunculus Nebula—which is now about a light-year long and continues to expand at more than 1.3 million mph—was molded by interactions between Eta Carinae's two stars. Watch the video to learn more. || ", "release_date": "2014-09-11T11:30:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:50:34.762421-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 451825, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011600/a011639/cz-1024_print.jpg", "filename": "cz-1024_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronomers use a 3-D printer to model a cosmic eruption.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [ { "id": 12989, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12989/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Superstar Eta Carinae Shoots Cosmic Rays", "description": "Zoom into Eta Carinae, where the outflows of two massive stars collide and shoot accelerated particles cosmic rays into space.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Music: \"Expectant Aspect\" from Killer Tracks.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Eta_Car_CR_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [307.1 KB] || Eta_Car_CR_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [127.9 KB] || Eta_Car_CR_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [98.2 KB] || Eta_Car_CR_Still_thm.png (80x40) [7.3 KB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_ProRes_1080.webm (1920x1080) [16.1 MB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_1080.m4v (1920x1080) [155.6 MB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [234.6 MB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_1080p.mov (1920x1080) [311.6 MB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [2.0 KB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [2.0 KB] || 12989_Eta_Car_CosmicRay_ProRes_1080.mov (1920x1080) [2.1 GB] || ", "release_date": "2018-07-03T11:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:46:39.808921-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 402389, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012900/a012989/Eta_Car_CR_Still.jpg", "filename": "Eta_Car_CR_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Zoom into Eta Carinae, where the outflows of two massive stars collide and shoot accelerated particles cosmic rays into space.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Music: \"Expectant Aspect\" from Killer Tracks.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }