A star cluster in the wake of Carina
A star cluster in the wake of Carina
Date: May 21, 2014
Source: European Southern Observatory - ESO
Summary:
This colorful new image from the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La
Silla Observatory in Chile shows the star cluster NGC 3590. These stars
shine brightly in front of a dramatic landscape of dark patches of dust and
richly hued clouds of glowing gas. This small stellar gathering gives
astronomers clues about how these stars form and evolve — as well as
giving hints about the structure of our galaxy's pinwheeling arms.
Credit: ESO/G. Beccari
NGC 3590 is a small open cluster of stars around 7500 light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Carina (The Keel). It is a gathering of dozens of stars loosely bound together by gravity and is roughly 35 million years old.
This cluster is not just pretty; it is very useful to astronomers. By studying this particular cluster -- and others nearby -- astronomers can explore the properties of the spiral disc of our galaxy, the Milky Way. NGC 3590 is located in the largest single segment of a spiral arm that can be seen from our position in the galaxy: the Carina spiral feature.
The Milky Way has multiple spiral arms, long curved streams of gas and stars stretching out from the galactic centre. These arms -- two major star-filled arms, and two less populated minor arms -- are each named after the constellations in which they are most prominent.* The Carina spiral feature is seen from Earth as a patch of sky heavily populated with stars, in the Carina-Sagittarius minor arm.
More:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094459.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28Latest+Science+News+--+ScienceDaily%29
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Eta Carinea!
Behold it!
And behold the nebula which it generates:
A detail from it:
That's one bad ass star. About 100 solar masses. It could blow at any time. And I mean blow! Thankfully it is about 7,500 light years away and it is not aligned to be any danger to us. But when it goes, the folks in the Southern Hemisphere will have quite a show.
